Polish Episcopate on current issues of the Church in Poland (communiqué after the meeting)

Attempts to discredit the person and legacy of St. John Paul II, the Synod on synodality and the beatification of the Ulma family were the main topics of the 394th Plenary Assembly of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, held in Warsaw on 13-14 March 2023.

The Plenary Assembly took place on the 10th anniversary of ascent to the Chair of St. Peter of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. To mark this occasion, the bishops celebrated the Eucharist at the Church of Divine Providence, officiated by Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Nuncio to Poland. They also extended their good wishes to Pope Francis and thanked the Nuncio for more than six years of his ministry in the Church in Poland.

In view of recent attempts to discredit the person and work of St. John Paul II, Polish bishops appealed to respect the memory of one of our most eminent compatriots. “The canonisation process that has been carried out leaves no doubt about the sanctity of John Paul II. At the same time, the bishops warmly thank all those who, from the very beginning, stood up to defend the good name of the Saint Pope,” reads the communiqué.

During the meeting, the bishops reviewed the proceedings of the Continental Synodal Assembly held in Prague in February 2023. The bishops recalled that “the aim of the synod is not to change the doctrine of the Church, but to seek an answer to the question of how to implement synodal spirituality within the one Catholic Church with its hierarchical structure”. The bishops also adopted the theme of the pastoral programme that will be implemented in the Church in Poland starting from this year’s Advent: “I participate in the community of the Church.”

Archbishop Adam Szal of Przemyśl introduced the bishops to the preparations for the beatification of the Ulma family, scheduled to take place on 10 September 2023 in Markowa. “This will be an unprecedented event in the history of the Church as one entire family will be raised to the glory of the altars: spouses and their children, including one unborn child,” observed the bishops. “The bishops encourage prayers for the spiritual fruit of the beatification and decided that the relics of the Blesseds will travel across Poland’s dioceses. This will be a chance to enhance ministry and prayer in the intention of married couples, families and children,” reads the communiqué.

With regard to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the bishops appealed “for continued prayers for peace and a generous continuation of assistance.”

On the question of crimes committed by some clergy against minors in the past, the practice of dealing with these problems “will be the subject of work by specialists, bearing in mind the issue of the credibility of documents of the communist period. In the best interest of the victims, the bishops intend to appoint such a group,” reads the communiqué.

Press Office, Polish Bishops’ Conference

The full text of the communiqué follows:

Communiqué from the 394th Plenary Assembly of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

The 394th Plenary Assembly of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, presided over Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, took place on 13 and 14 March 2023 in Warsaw.

1. The Plenary Session took place on the 10th anniversary of ascent to the Chair of St. Peter of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. To mark this occasion, the bishops celebrated the Eucharist at the Church of Divine Providence in Warsaw Wilanów, officiated by Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Nuncio to Poland. They also extended their good wishes of light of the Holy Spirit to Pope Francis and assured him of their spiritual closeness. The bishops moreover thanked the Nuncio for more than six years of his ministry in the Church in Poland.
2. In view of the recent large-scale and unprecedented attempts to discredit the person and legacy of St. John Paul II, the bishops appeal to everyone to respect the memory of one of our most eminent compatriots. The canonisation process that has been carried out leaves no doubt about the sanctity of John Paul II. At the same time, the bishops warmly thank all those who, from the very beginning, stood up to defend the good name of the Saint Pope.
3. The bishops received information on the Continental Synodal Meeting, taking place in February 2023 in Prague. This was an important ecclesial event, which enabled a frank, though sometimes tense and divergent, discussion about the Church in Europe and in the world. The aim of the synod is not to change the doctrine of the Church, but to seek an answer to the question of how to implement synodal spirituality within the one Catholic Church with its hierarchical structure. It was also recalled that vital in the synodal process is, as indicated by Pope Francis, the permanent reconstruction and revival of the synodal structures in the Church, first of all different advisory bodies, as well as the construction of everyday synodality, based on fair and honest relations between the members of the Church. The bishops also adopted the theme of the pastoral programme that will be implemented in the Church in Poland starting from this year’s Advent: “I participate in the community of the Church.”
4. The bishops received information of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Przemyśl Adam Szal about the beatification of Józef and Wiktoria Ulma and their seven children, to take place on 10 September 2023 in Markowa. This will be an unprecedented event in the history of the Church as one entire family will be raised to the glory of the altars: spouses and their children, including one unborn child. The Ulma family courageously practised Christian mercy, living the spirit of the Eight Beatitudes. All its members were murdered on 24 March 1944 by the German occupiers for giving shelter to persecuted Jews. The bishops encourage prayers for the spiritual fruit of the beatification and decided that the relics of the Blesseds will travel across Poland’s dioceses. This will be a chance to enhance ministry and prayer in the intention of married couples, families and children.
5. Russian aggression in Ukraine continues. Our compatriots have very actively and in various ways become involved in helping the refugees who have arrived in Poland, as well as all those who are suffering this war in Ukraine itself. The bishops once again express their profound gratitude to Caritas, other aid organisations, the faithful and people of goodwill who have actively joined in helping the victims of the war and continue to do so. The Shepherds of the Church appeal for continued prayers for peace and a generous continuation of this assistance.
6. The practice of solving problems related to crimes committed by certain clergy against minors in the past will be the subject of work by specialists, bearing in mind the issue of the credibility of documents of the communist period. In the best interests of the victims, the bishops intend to appoint such a group.
7. Information provided recently, after 36 years, about the assassination of Servant of God Fr. Franciszek Blachnicki, temporarily imprisoned in 1961 and murdered in 1987, indicates the complexity of the communist time in Poland.

Through the intercession of St. Joseph, a few days before the Solemnity of the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Bishops commend to God all the affairs of the Church and the Homeland and confer their pastoral blessing.

Signed by the Shepherds of the Catholic Church in Poland present at the 394th Plenary Session of the Polish Bishops’ Conference.

Warsaw, 14 March 2023

Translation: M. Turski / Office for Foreign Communication of the Polish Bishops’ Conference