Polish bishops on the Synod and current issues of the Church in Poland (communiqué following the debates)

The first Roman session of the Synod on synodality, a new pastoral program for the Church in Poland, protection of children and young people, as well as the conflict in the Holy Land were the main topics addressed at the 396th Plenary Session of the Polish Bishop’s Conference, held on 20-21 November 2023 in the Jasna Góra Shrine.

For the first time the Plenary Assembly of the Polish Bishops’ Conference was attended by the new Apostolic Nuncio in Poland, Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, who handed over his credentials to the President of the Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki.

During the meeting, the bishops listened to the report of the delegation of the Polish Bishops’ Conference from the first Roman session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. “In unity with Pope Francis, they see the Synod as an important instrument for the renewal of the Church for the more effective fulfilment of her mission. They stressed not only the great importance of theological discourse on synodality, but also its practical and concrete implications in the life of Church communities”, reads the communiqué. The Polish Bishops’ Conference will reflect on the document Synodal Church in Mission.

Referring to the conflict in the Holy Land, the bishops admitted that its intensification is extremely painful for them. “This conflict has within a short time caused the deaths of thousands of people, including women and children. All those affected by the consequences of wars and conflicts are supported by the bishops with prayer and an appeal to God for peace. They also pray for the oppressed Ukrainian people” – indicates the communiqué.

The bishops recalled that on the first Sunday of Advent, the Church in Poland is launching the new pastoral programme 2023/2024 “I Am Part of the Community of the Church”. “It responds to the need identified by the Synod to revive the communal dimension in the Church and the call to personal participation in the life and mission of the Church”, states the communiqué. The bishops moreover took note of the state of preparations for the Jubilee Year 2025 announced by Pope Francis.

Addressing the topic of the protection of minors and the most vulnerable, the bishops reviewed the tasks arising from the entry into force of a new law aimed at strengthening the legal protection of children against abuse. “The development of a national strategy for the protection of children in Poland has long been called for by the Polish Bishops’ Conference”, reads the communiqué. Furthermore, the bishops were briefed on the progress of work on the launch of an ecclesiastical team of independent experts to investigate the tragedy of sexual abuse of minors in the Church in Poland. This work is being coordinated by a special team set up under the Delegate for the Protection of Children and Young People of the Polish Bishops’ Conference. “In response to the invitation extended by the Polish bishops in June this year to men and women religious in Poland, the team has been expanded to include representatives of consecrated life. In this make-up, it is currently working out the objectives of the activities of the ecclesiastical team of experts, which will determine its competences and the concrete scope of its activities” – states the communiqué.

Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

The full text of the communiqué follows:

Communiqué from the 396th Plenary Session of the Polish Bishop’s Conference

The 396th Plenary Session of the Polish Bishop’s Conference presided over by Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki was held in Jasna Góra on 20 and 21 November 2023.

1. For the first time the Plenary Assembly of the Polish Bishops’ Conference was attended by the new Apostolic Nuncio in Poland, Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, who resumed his duties in Warsaw on October 5. Addressing the bishops, the nuncio expressed his joy from meeting with the Bishops’ Conference “at home and under the gaze of the Queen of Poland”. Handing over his credentials to the President of the Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki as well as extending the greetings and blessing of Holy Father Francis, the nuncio shared his experiences of the diplomatic service for the Holy See.
2. The bishops listened to an extensive report of the delegation of the Polish Bishops’ Conference from the first Roman session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. In unity with Pope Francis, they see the Synod as an important instrument for the renewal of the Church for the more effective fulfilment of her mission. They stressed not only the great importance of theological discourse on synodality, but also its practical and concrete implications in the life of Church communities. The Polish Bishops’ Conference will reflect on the document Synodal Church in Mission and will stimulate this reflection on different levels of the Church in Poland, inviting all baptised Christians to reflect on this matter. This reflection should be accompanied by the creation of a synodal style and culture of life for all communities, starting with parishes, so that they become places of witness to the faith and of living in communion with God and with fellow humans. The bishops urge everyone to read this document carefully and to practise synodality at all levels of ecclesiastical life. The distinctive feature of synodality is the communal discernment of what the Holy Spirit communicates to the Church.
3. It is with great concern that the bishops observe the difficult situation in many parts of the world, especially in war-torn areas. The escalation of the conflict in the Holy Land is extremely painful. This conflict has within a short time caused the deaths of thousands of people, including women and children. All those affected by the consequences of wars and conflicts are supported by the bishops with prayer and an appeal to God for peace. They also pray for the oppressed Ukrainian people. The bishops extend their gratitude to all Catholic aid organisations, especially Caritas, for incessant humanitarian assistance to the poorest and the most vulnerable.
4. On the first Sunday of Advent, the Church in Poland is launching the new pastoral programme: “I Am Part of the Community of the Church”. It responds to the need identified by the Synod to revive the communal dimension in the Church and the call to personal participation in the life and mission of the Church. The bishops encourage the pastors and the faithful to achieve these goals by synodally “walking together” and courageously taking responsibility for the Church.
5. The bishops took note of the state of preparations for the Jubilee Year 2025 announced by Pope Francis. It is a unique gift of grace, involving the forgiveness of sins and the grace of indulgence. A special dimension of it will be the pilgrimage to Rome, the passage through the open Holy Door and the veneration of the relics of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. The year 2024 will be dedicated to prayer for this important event. In this spirit, the Pastoral Care Commission of the Polish Bishops’ Conference has begun work on the pastoral programme of the Church in Poland for 2024/2025.
6. In discussing the protection of minors and the vulnerable, the bishops took note of the tasks arising from the entry into force of a new law designed to strengthen the legal protection of children against abuse. It will also affect the activities of Church-run institutions. Its outcome is the National Plan of Action for the Protection of Children against Violence and Sexual Offences. The development of a national strategy for the protection of children in Poland has long been called for by the Polish Bishops’ Conference. The bishops were briefed on the progress of work on the launch of an ecclesiastical team of independent experts tasked with the investigation of the tragedy of sexual abuse of minors in the Church in Poland. This work is being coordinated by a special team set up under the Delegate for the Protection of Children and Young People of the Polish Bishops’ Conference. In response to the invitation extended by the Polish bishops in June this year to men and women religious in Poland, the team has been expanded to include representatives of consecrated life. In this make-up, it is currently working out the objectives of the activities of the ecclesiastical team of experts, which will determine its competences and the concrete scope of its activities.
7. The Plenary Assembly was attended by international guests. One of them was Fr. Prof. Thomas Schwartz, President of the German Renovabis Foundation, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. During this time, the foundation has financially supported numerous projects of the Catholic Church in Central and Eastern Europe. The bishops expressed great gratitude for the multifaceted support of Polish initiatives enabling the development of pastoral ministries, priestly formation, or social activities. Thanks to this assistance, Polish priests and nuns are able to do pastoral work in the East.
8. The bishops also listened to an address by Archbishop Emilio Nappa, President of the Pontifical Missionary Works, who thanked the Church in Poland for the cooperation and support for this organisation in its projects to help the young and poor communities of the Church. He expressed special gratitude to all Poles for helping the Ukrainians since the outbreak of the war, especially for warmly welcoming in their homes those most in need from the war-torn areas. Archbishop Nappa appealed for the Church’s mission of evangelisation to become a priority for all local communities.
9. In the context of the recent beatification and the ongoing pilgrimage of the relics of the Ulma Family, the bishops call for the defence of human life and the value of the family. Furthermore, out of concern for the well-being of families, as well as for properly understood leisure for the general public, they urge that Sunday should remain a day off work, giving everyone the opportunity to celebrate, and for the faithful to live it as the Lord’s Day, in accordance with the commandment of the Decalogue.

Through the intercession of Our Lady of Jasna Góra, Queen of Poland, the bishops commend to God all the affairs of the Church and homeland and confer their pastoral blessing.

Signed by the pastors of the Catholic Church in Poland present at the 396th Plenary Assembly of the Polish Bishop’s Conference.

Jasna Góra, 21 November 2023

Translated by M. Turski / Office for Foreign Communication of the Polish Bishops’ Conference