“I express my solidarity with all Ukrainians, both in Poland and in Ukraine, assuring them of our closeness, prayers, and readiness to help them,” wrote the President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Stanislaw Gądecki, in an Appeal in connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Referring to the request of Pope Francis, the Episcopate’s President asked the bishops and all the faithful in the Church in Poland to observe Ash Wednesday as a day of fasting, prayer for peace, and solidarity with Ukraine. “I ask that, in every church and parish in Poland, we make fervent supplications for peace and for the Ukrainians, that the Lord may comfort their hearts in this dramatic situation,” he wrote.

Archbishop Gądecki also asked that both this Sunday and Ash Wednesday, after each Mass, collections be organized to gather funds, which – through Caritas Poland – will be allocated to help war refugees from Ukraine.

The President of the Episcopate also asked all the faithful and people of good will to have an open attitude towards those in need of shelter.

Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

We are publishing the full text of the Appeal:

 

APPEAL
OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE POLISH BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE
IN CONNECTION WITH THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

 

In connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on behalf of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, I strongly condemn the actions of Russia and Vladimir Putin, recognizing them as an unacceptable and shameful act of barbarism, directed against the sovereignty and freedom of an independent state.

At the same time, together with the entire Church in Poland, I express my solidarity with all Ukrainians, both in Poland and in Ukraine, assuring them of our closeness, prayers, and readiness to help them.

In connection with the request of Pope Francis, I ask the bishops and all the faithful in the Church in Poland to observe Ash Wednesday as a day of fasting, prayer for peace, and solidarity with Ukraine. I ask that, in every church and parish in Poland, we make fervent supplications for peace and for the Ukrainians, that the Lord may comfort their hearts in this dramatic situation.

As the Church in Poland, we wish to provide our brothers and sisters with material help. I, therefore, ask that both this Sunday and Ash Wednesday, after each Mass, collections be organized to gather funds, which – through Caritas Poland – will be allocated to help war refugees from Ukraine. The assistance of the Catholic Church in Poland will be provided gradually and systematically through our charitable institutions—on the parish, diocesan, and national levels—, including the Team for Assistance to the Church in the East attached to the Polish Bishops’ Conference.

Moreover, I ask all the faithful and people of good will to be open to those in need of shelter.

I entrust the fate of Ukraine and Poland to the Queen of Peace, assuring everyone of my spiritual closeness and my prayers.

 

✠ Stanislaw Gądecki
Archbishop Metropolitan of Poznan
President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

 

Warsaw, 24 February 2022

 

(Translated from Polish: Sr. Paschale Nau / Office for Foreign Communication of the Polish Bishops’ Conference)