On Saturday, October 12, the Totus Tuus awards ceremony was held at the Royal Castle in Warsaw on the eve of the 24th Papal Day, presented by the “Work of the New Millennium” Foundation. Awards were conferred in four categories, with an additional special prize granted. In the category of “Promoting the Teachings of John Paul II,” the Totus Tuus Award went to Fr. Andrzej Dobrzyński, scholar and writer, and director of the Center for Documentation and Study of the Pontificate of John Paul II in Rome. The jury cited his “scholarly and written contributions dedicated to St. John Paul II, lectures across the globe promoting papal teachings, and profound kindness in sharing these messages.”
After receiving the award, Fr. Dobrzyński expressed gratitude to those present, emphasizing that he views the recognition as an appreciation of the hard work of the Center’s small team, especially the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, and shared his hope that the Center will soon have a new location in central Rome, which will further its development. He addressed the audience with the following remarks:
Your Eminences, Excellencies, Venerable Priests and Sisters,
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am deeply grateful to the Award Committee and the “Work of the New Millennium” Foundation for this recognition. I do not consider myself an expert on John Paul II’s teachings. My achievements in this area—publications and organized symposia—are the result of my work at the Center for Documentation and Study of the Pontificate of John Paul II in Rome, which belongs to the Vatican Foundation established by the Holy Father in 1981. This Center has existed for over 40 years, operates with the support of the Polish community, and includes a library, archive, and collection of museum pieces, managed by a small team of. just two or three people. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the leadership of the Vatican Foundation, my predecessors, and friends of the Center, but especially express my gratitude to the Sisters of the Congregation of the Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, whose contribution to the Center’s work is immense. I consider this award as a recognition of the humble achievements of our small team, with a significant contribution from the Sisters of the Sacred Heart.
When I was assigned to work at the Center in 2007, it felt like a mission of the Cyrenean. Over time, however, I have become fully committed to this task, for better or for worse. I am convinced that the Center should grow as a research institution, not on the periphery as it has been, but in the heart of Rome. This would make it a vital point of reference, bearing witness to the influence of Polish Christian culture—the culture that shaped Karol Wojtyła—and to the legacy of St. John Paul II’s pontificate, which offers inspiration and guidance to our times and future generations. This vision and its realization are possible today. I believe they align with the ideological goals of the Vatican Foundation of John Paul II, as well as the essential mission of the Polish Church and Polish culture.
The phrase “our pope” should not imply “your pope.” Rather, it suggests that the testimony of his life, and even more so, his teachings, should serve as an enduring light for the paths of the universal Church, culture, and humanity, which have intersected for two millennia in the Eternal City. In this regard, the Center for Documentation and Study of the Pontificate of John Paul II in Rome can play a significant role. I interpret today’s award as an acknowledgment of the Center’s efforts to date, for which I once again express my deepest thanks.
Photo. Biuro Prasowe KEP
