The behavior of the authorities in Warsaw was not the behavior of Poles. The emphasis to give the Papal visit as little importance as possible, television manipulations, difficulties created primarily to pilgrimages using coach transportation – all this was not Polish, did not reflect the tradition of Polish hospitality, especially with regard to the Pope-Pole. Certainly, the pressures of Moscow and Prague were hidden in these activities. There was a huge fear of the reaction of the so-called Big Brother.
The Communist authorities were increasingly concerned, because they began to understand that the situation was out of their control. The Pope has publicly spoken words that have been for a long time withdrawn by the regime. In Częstochowa, in the presence of Bishops, he declared that respect for human rights is a necessary condition for regulating state-church relations that Poles should think of themselves as their homeland in a “European context”. Christianity was to re-engage in shaping the spiritual unity of Europe. “Economic and political reasons alone will not shape it.”
In this way, the Holy Father made it clear that he had never accepted the results of the agreement from Yalta and the division of Europe into two blocs. According to him, this constituted a great wickedness, which was allowed with the participation of Western powers.
With the consent of Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz – “Testimony”.
TBA marketing communication Publishing House. Warsaw 2007
