English
“On behalf of the faithful and shepherds of the Church in Poland, I wish to thank Your Holiness for the loving and sensitive words about St. John Paul II”, wrote President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki in a letter to Pope Francis. He referred to the words spoken by Pope Francis on Sunday, April 16, during the Regina Coeli prayer, “in the context of media allegations” concerning St. John Paul II .
“The Church in Poland is deeply saddened by the extent of manipulation by an Italian television station and by the total lack of journalistic professionalism of the programme’s authors, who, on the basis of rumours, publicly and disgracefully attacked Saint John Paul II”, wrote Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki to the Pope.
The President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference observed that “such actions are part of an extensive project of discrediting Pope Wojtyła and are another attempt on his life. This time the attackers want to inflict a moral death on St. John Paul II. Incidentally, similar measures are adopted by some circles in Poland,” we read in the letter.
In the document, Archbishop Gądecki assured about prayers “for millions of Catholics worldwide, affected by the scandalous attempts to defame St. John Paul II and for their authors, asking God’s mercy for them”.
Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference
The full letter follows:
Warsaw, 17 April 2023
Your Holiness,
On behalf of the faithful and shepherds of the Church in Poland, I wish to thank Your Holiness for the loving and sensitive words about St. John Paul II, spoken during the Regina Coeli prayer on Sunday, in the context of media allegations concerning our beloved, great compatriot.
The Church in Poland is deeply saddened by the extent of manipulation by an Italian television station and by the total lack of journalistic professionalism of the programme’s authors, who, on the basis of rumours, publicly and disgracefully attacked Saint John Paul II.
Such actions are part of an extensive project of discrediting Pope Wojtyła and are another attempt on his life. This time the attackers want to inflict a moral death on St. John Paul II. Incidentally, similar measures are adopted by some circles in Poland.
We pray for the millions of Catholics worldwide, affected by the scandalous attempts to defame St. John Paul II, and for their authors, asking God’s mercy for them.
With filial devotion
+ Stanisław Gądecki
Metropolitan Archbishop of Poznań
President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference
_______________________
His Holiness
FRANCIS
Pope
Translated by M. Turski / Office for Foreign Communication of the Polish Bishops’ Conference
