Opinions of the Polish Catholic Clergy and Some Circles of Lay Catholics on Edward Gierek’s Visit to the Vatican
Dominik Zamiatała CMF ks.
Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw , Polandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3814-7441
Abstract
In early December 1977, Pope Paul VI received the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers’ Party Edward Gierek in a private audience at the Vatican. This visit was described by the Polish Communists as an epochal event for state-church relations in the Polish People’s Republic, and they intended to use it for their political ends. E. Gierek’s meeting with Paul VI reverberated among the Polish clergy and lay Catholic circles, provoking numerous discussions and comments. Overall, among the laity, comments were favourable, and the information about the meeting was received positively. Some people thought that a new era had begun in the relationship between the state and the Church, that everything was going to change for the better. Among the clergy, although the very fact of the meeting was welcomed, different opinions circulated as to its effects. Some expected changes in state policy, such as on church construction matters, or radio and television broadcasting of services. Others were more sceptical. This is because they were convinced that the Pope’s talk with the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers’ Party (PZPR) would change nothing in a country ruled by communists.
Keywords:
Pope Paul VI, Edward Gierek, Catholic Church, Vatican, clergy, laity, Primate Stefan WyszyńskiReferences
Źródła archiwalne
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Archiwum Instytutu Prymasowskiego Stefana Kardynała Wyszyńskiego.
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Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3814-7441
License
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