Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) protested against the Vatican over controversial remarks made by Polish bishops, which it claimed violated the Concordat and interfered with domestic matters. The Vatican responded, emphasizing its respect for citizens’ right to express opinions under the Polish Constitution and advocating for diplomatic dialogue.
Vatican’s Response to the MoFA Protest
Scandalous Bishops’ Theories and the Position of the Episcopate
The Polish Press Agency revealed that the Vatican clarified in its response that the bishops’ statements did not reflect the stance of the Polish Episcopate. However, the official reply did not express regret over the remarks made by Bishops Wiesława Meringa and Antoni Długosz.
Manipulating Tusk’s Words
Bishop Meringa, in a July 12 homily during the Radio Maryja pilgrimage to Mount Jasna Góra, falsely claimed that Polish politicians—citing Donald Tusk—referred to Poland as being ruled by “political gangsters.” This misquote omitted Tusk’s explicit reference to his own government’s actions, framing it as a criticism of the Church instead of domestic political rhetoric.
Threatening “Hundreds of Thousands of Migrants”
The same day, Bishop Długosz warned of an increasingly realistic scenario of “hundreds of thousands of migrants being absorbed into Poland.” He accused the authorities of denying such concerns while citing political statements from Berlin and Brussels as evidence of a “grand politics, ideology, money, and great lie,” calling for greater attention to border patrol issues.
MoFA Demands Consequences for the Bishops
The MoFA accused the bishops of making “disgraceful and unworthy” remarks that breach the Concordat and encroach on Poland’s internal affairs. It called for disciplinary action against them. Publicist Tomasz Terlikowski criticized Meringa, likening his behavior to that of a “non-brother” and accusing him of promoting “stupid, scandalous, and un-Christian” ideas in line with political groups like PiS or the Confederation.
Source: Gazeta, Polska Agencja Prasowa
