Meeting with Government and Civil Authorities (17 June 1983)

On Friday, 17 June 1983, the Holy Father met with government and civil authorities in the Belveder Palace in Warsaw. In his speech the Pope spoke of the Second World War and the Holy See's efforts to promote peace in the world.

Illustrious President and General
Illustrious Gentlemen!

1. "A prosperous and serene Poland is also in the interest of tranquility and good collaboration between the peoples of Europe" . Allow me to begin my speech with the same words with which I began it, in this same Belveder Palace, in June 1979 , during my previous visit to the Fatherland. I repeat these words because they were spoken by a great friend of Poland, Pope Paul VI , to whom the Church in our homeland owes the important work of normalization in the Northern and Western Territories. I say them again, also because these words manifest, so to speak, the constant excellence of what the Apostolic See thinks of Poland, and what Poland desires.

2. This way of thinking has an important meaning in the context of our difficult historical past, starting especially from the end of the 18th century. Precisely in the context of Poland's divisions, the thought, according to which "a prosperous and serene Poland is also in the interest of tranquility and good collaboration between the peoples of Europe", was a postulate of international morality , as well as of the sound European reason of state . This thought, for more than a hundred years, had to travel through imperialisms contrary to our independence; to finally find expression, at the end of the first world war , in peace treaties. The Polish Nation has constant gratitude towards those who were then the heralds of its independent existence.

As we find ourselves in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, the memory of all these historical experiences revives in a special way. And that is why the words of Paul VI always remain important, which recognize not only that Poland has the right to the sovereign existence of a State, but also that it in its own place is necessary for Europe and the world.

3. Paul VI, in the words quoted, emphasizes that "Poland... is also interested in tranquility and good collaboration between the peoples of Europe". This statement has its full eloquence in the context of the Second World War , which was the greatest violation of peace in this century, especially on the European continent. Poland found itself precisely at the center of the terrible experiences of that war. For its right to sovereignty it paid with six million of its citizens, who sacrificed their lives on the different fronts of the war, in prisons and extermination camps. The Polish nation confirmed at a very high price its right to be sovereign mistress of the land , received from its ancestors.

The memory of the terrible experiences of war, lived by Poland and other Peoples of Europe, renews, once again, the urgent call for peace not to be disturbed or put in danger, and in particular so that, as much as possible, As soon as possible and effectively, that is, with fair and constructive negotiations, a solution to the threatening arms race can be found.

4. When I come to Poland, I have before my eyes its entire thousand-year history, and, above all, the experiences of this century, which are linked to my life.

I would like to thank the supreme State Authorities very much for the invitation to come to the Fatherland, which was given to me with the letter from the President of the State Council. I come to my homeland as a pilgrim on the occasion of the Jubilee of Jasna Góra. I come to be with my compatriots at a particularly difficult moment in Poland's history, after the Second World War. At the same time, I do not lose hope that this difficult moment can become a path of social renewal , the beginning of which is constituted by social agreements, stipulated by the representatives of the State Authorities with the Representatives of the world of work. And although life in the Fatherland, since December 13, 1981, has been subjected to the severe rigors of the state of war , which has been suspended since the beginning of this year, I nevertheless do not cease to hope that that social reform, often announced, according to The principles elaborated with so much effort in the critical days of August 1980, and contained in the agreements, will gradually be put into practice .

Such renewal is essential to maintain Poland's good name in the world, as well as to overcome the internal crisis and to spare the suffering of so many sons and daughters of the nation, my compatriots.

5. The Apostolic See dedicates numerous efforts to the cause of peace in the contemporary world . This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the publication of Pope John XXIII 's encyclical Pacem in Terris . Paul VI carried forward, in many ways, efforts in this field. They are very numerous, and at the same time generally known; It would be difficult at this point to remember them in detail. I will only mention the initiative of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in 1981. Eminent experts from scientific disciplines such as physics, biology, genetics and medicine, prepared a "memorandum" on the predictable consequences of the use of atomic weapons. The "memorandum" was delivered by representatives of the aforementioned Academy to the Heads of State of the Soviet Union, the United States of America, England, France, the President of the UN Assembly and the UN Secretary General.

Since the time of Paul VI, the custom has been established to celebrate the World Day of Peace at the beginning of the year , for which an annual message is sent. This year the message of January 1st is entitled "Dialogue for peace, a challenge for our time" . I took the liberty of sending the text of this message also to the supreme Representatives of the State Authorities in Poland.

This message evokes the experiences of the past, to indicate that dialogue in favor of peace, especially in our time, is necessary . It is also possible : "Men are ultimately capable - I wrote - of overcoming divisions, conflicts of interest and even oppositions that seem radical,... if they believe in the effectiveness of dialogue, if they accept meeting among men to seek together a peaceful and reasonable solution to conflicts".

6. Next, the document characterizes the distinctive notes of true dialogue and the obstacles it encounters. This year's message devotes a lot of space to the problem of dialogue in favor of peace on an international level . Given the circumstances, I will allow myself to draw attention to the paragraph entitled " Dialogue at a national level" , which reads: "Dialogue for peace must be established... to resolve social conflicts and to seek the common good. Taking into account the interests of different groups, peaceful agreement can be achieved constantly, through dialogue, in the exercise of freedoms and democratic duties by everyone, thanks to participation structures and multiple means of conciliation between work donors and workers, and in the way of respecting and associating cultural, ethnic and religious groups that make up a Nation. When, unfortunately, dialogue between Rulers and people is absent, social peace is threatened or absent; It's like a state of war. But history and current observation show that many countries have managed or are able to establish a true permanent agreement , resolve the conflicts that arise within them, or even prevent them, arranging for them truly effective instruments of dialogue".

7. Illustrious Gentlemen!

I return once again to the words of Paul VI: "A prosperous and serene Poland is in the interest of tranquility and good collaboration between the peoples of Europe...".

As a son of the Polish land, I particularly make these words my personal augury for the Nation and the State. I send this augury at the same time to the Representatives of the Authorities and to the entire Society.

I ardently hope that Poland will always have its rightful place among the nations of Europe, between East and West. I ardently hope that conditions for "good collaboration" will be created again with all the Western nations of our continent, as well as the American one, especially when it comes to the United States of North America, where so many" millions of citizens are of Polish origin I am deeply convinced that such conditions can be created. This is also one of the tasks of dialogue — international dialogue — in favor of peace in the contemporary world.

I also know that the Polish Episcopate constantly makes tireless efforts so that the principle of dialogue proclaimed by the Church can become a fruitful basis for both internal peace and "good collaboration" between Poland and the other Nations of Europe. and the world.

9. I would like to once again express my gratitude for the invitation to come to the Fatherland. I also wish to place in the hands of the Representatives of the supreme Authorities of the Polish Republic, a thank you for everything that — both these Authorities, and the local administration bodies, subordinate to them — did to prepare my meeting with the Nation and the Church in my country.

As during my previous visit, I wish to finally affirm that I will continue to consider all the true good of my homeland as mine, as if I continued to live in this land, and perhaps even more so, because of the distance. With the same vigor I will also continue to feel what could threaten Poland, what could cause her harm or dishonor, what could mean stagnation or depression.

In praying for Poland, multitudes of men of good will, all over the world, join me.

I add the expressions of esteem for all the different Representatives of the Authorities and for each one in particular, according to the position they occupy, according to the dignity they possess, as well as according to the important part of responsibility that weighs on each of you in the face of history and your conscience.

I also wish to thank you for the gifts you offered me, very precious and very significant, especially at this historic moment, when we remember the 300th anniversary of the siege of Vienna. In turn, I ask you to accept my souvenir, a Saint John the Baptist created by the school of Ferrara in the 16th century, from the Vatican Museum. The name of this Saint is linked to that of the last Popes, starting from John XXIII . In memory of these predecessors and in memory of my visit, I wish to leave in Poland this work, which brings together biblical motifs and those of papal tradition. I sincerely ask you to accept it.

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