The Daring 1965 Bishops’ Letter That Enraged Communists — and Helped Heal a Wounded Europe

November 17, 2025 World News

Zajezdnia Historic Center and National Digital Archives.
The Polish bishops letter was authored by Archbishop Bolesław Kominek of Wroclaw (center), sitting in 1966 next to Archbishop Karol Wojtyła of Krakow on the left, who reviewed and edited versions of the letter. Salesian Archbishop Antoni Baraniak of Poznań shown on the right.

Signed by 36 Polish bishops at the Second Vatican Council, the letter sought to break cycles of vengeance by embracing the Gospel’s mandate to forgive.

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