ITALY: POPE CRITICISES POLISH GOVERNMENT BAN ON HIS VISIT.

Record ID: 565932

  • Title: ITALY: POPE CRITICISES POLISH GOVERNMENT BAN ON HIS VISIT.
  • Date: 15th May 1966
  • Summary: CROWD OUTSIDE VATICAN; POPE DELIVERING ADDRESS. Initials GM/V/BHH/EEH Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 30th May 1966 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: VATICAN CITY, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA9A9HZHOV835AKSBT5SOUZ3I02
  • Story Text: POPE PAUL HAS REPROACHED THE POLISH GOVERNMENT FOR BARRING HIM FROM POLAND'S CHRISTIAN MILLENNIUM CELEBRATIONS. HE DELIVERED THE REBUKE TODAY (SUNDAY) WHILE ADDRESSING 4,000 POLISH EXILES DURING A MASS IN ST. PETER'S, ROME.

    DESCRIBING THE REFUSAL AS UNJUSTIFIED, THE POPE SAID THE MILLENNIUM CELEBRATIONS HAD NOT BEEN AIMED AT BRINGING BACK 'THEOCRATIC PRIVILEGES OR OUTMODED POLITICAL AND SOCIAL FORMS'. HE HAD ASSURED THE POLISH GOVERNMENT THAT HIS BRIEF TRIP TO POLAND WOULD BE OF A RELIGIOUS NATURE ONLY.

    THE POPE SAID HE NATURALLY FELT 'VIVID REGRET' AT NOT BEING ABLE TO ATTEND THE POLISH CELEBRATIONS. HE WAS CONVINCED THAT 'THE REASONS FOR OPPOSING OUR PILGRIMAGE, ASCRIBED TO THE ACTS AND ATTITUDES OF THE MOST VENERABLE CARDINAL WYSZYNSKI (ARCHBISHOP OF WARSAW) ARE NOT JUSTIFIED AND WE CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY THE GENERAL FEELING OF A NATION SO NOBLE AND SO DIFFERENTIAL TO THE CHURCH AS THE POLISH'. HE SAID THE CELEBRATIONS WERE 'NOT IN ANY WAY CONTRARY TO THE WELL-BEING AND PROGRESS OF A MODERN SOCIETY, BUT RATHER SHOULD BE REGARDED AS AN HONOUR AND AN ADVANTAGE FOR IT'.

    AT THE END OF HIS ADDRESS, THE POPE PRONOUNCED A GREETING IN POLISH FOR CARDINAL WYSZYNSKI AND THE POLISH CLERGY, PEOPLE AND CIVIL AUTHORITIES.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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