On September 12, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński will be declared blessed in Warsaw, Poland.
Cardinal Wyszyński was a giant in Poland's fight against communism, and was a close friend of Pope John Paul II. He is credited with strengthening Christianity in Poland in the face of persecution from the totalitarian government.
AMB. JANUSZ KOTAŃSKI
Polish Ambassador to the Holy See
'If we are talking about our fight against communism, you can see openly that the role of Primate Wyszyński was crucial. He was a man who never used forced against communism, but thanks to his strength we've won.'
Janusz Kotański is Poland's Ambassador to the Holy See. He is a historian who wrote a book on the life of Cardinal Wyszyński prior to his ambassadorship.
He says that the Cardinal's hard line against communism was essential to maintaining the Church's sovereignty in Poland.
AMB. JANUSZ KOTAŃSKI
Polish Ambassador to the Holy See
'In 1953, communists were trying to impose their rules to nominate bishops and priests, he said 'non possumus, non possumus,' we can't. And very shortly after that, communists put him into prison.'
Cardinal Wyszyński prepared Poland to celebrate 1,000 years of Christianity in the country in 1966, earning him the nickname “Primate of the Millennium.” He was also instrumental in the election of Pope John Paul II in 1978, with whom he remained close friends until his death in 1981.
Now his beatification offers a chance to look back on his legacy, and remember his contributions to Poland in a time of trial.
AMB. JANUSZ KOTAŃSKI
Polish Ambassador to the Holy See
'The life of Wyszyński is the story of Poland during the 20th century, and it is very important that we now, again, read what he wrote. If we forget about our heroes, about Wyszyński, about St. John Paul II, about the Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko, what will become of us Poles?'
Pope Francis officially recognized Cardinal Wyszyński's heroic virtues in 2017. After his beatification, the people of Poland will be waiting for confirmation of a miracle through his intercession for the Primate of the Millennium to be officially declared a saint.
JM
