Message of Pope John Paul II to Cardinal Wyszyński, the Primate of Poland
Today we come back with the message of Pope John Paul II to Cardinal Wyszyński. This leaflet was to assure those on strike in the shipyard on the support provided by John Paul II, who was informed on a daily basis of the progress of the strike from the front pages of newspapers and from TV and radio broadcasts.
This leaflet (together with other materials related to the August 1980 strike) was published on our website in 2017: https://www.archiwapomorskie.pl/zarchnszzs/inter-enterprise-strike-committee/. This time we have added the English translation of its content:
MESSAGE OF POPE JOHN PAUL II TO CARDINAL WYSZYŃSKI, THE PRIMATE OF POLAND
The Most Honourable and Beloved Cardinal Primate!
I am writing these few words to assure Your Eminence that on these last difficult days I remain particularly close, participating in prayer and in my heart in this experience that my Motherland and my Countrymen are going through again.
Stories on this subject make headlines on newspaper front pages, and on television and radio. I pray that the Episcopate of Poland with its Primate, supported by Her, who is given to us to protect our Nation, will be able also this time to help our Nation in the struggle for daily bread, social justice and protection of our indefeasible right to our own life and development.
These few words come from my inner self.
I am with You at the feet of Our Lady of Jasna Góra through my care, prayer and blessing.
With my deepest respect
John Paul II
The Free Print Shop of the Gdańsk Shipyard
August 1980
The original message:
Visit us at the in the Archives of the National Commission of the Solidarity Trade Union
If you are interested in the attached documents and in our other archival materials please contact us by email: .
/Łukasz Grochowski, the Archives of the National Commission of the Solidarity Trade Union,
Iwona Flis, Stanisław Flis Foundation “Pomerania Archives”/