Card. Parolin celebrates 1050th anniv of Poland’s conversion
(Vatican Radio) The Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was in Poland on Friday to mark the 1050th anniversary of the conversion of the nation to Christianity. “The Polish Church is aware of the new waves that unfailingly call us to find proper ways to be the ‘salt and light’ of the earth and the fire that warms the hearts and attracts people to the proclamation of salvation,” said Cardinal Parolin to the Polish bishops, who were gathered in plenary session on Friday morning to celebrate the recurrence.
Cardinal Parolin praised the historic faithfulness of the Polish people, saying, “[Your] faithfulness to God, to the Gospel and to the Holy See has garnered the respect and esteem of other nations, and made the Church in Poland a bulwark of Christian faith and charity and a light in the darkness that has enshrouded Europe so many times.”
Also on Friday, Cardinal Parolin met with Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo.
On Thursday, Cardinal Parolin celebrated Mass in the ancient Christian capital of Poland, Gniezno, during which he conveyed Pope Francis’ regards, “Who,” said Cardinal Parolin, “is here in spirit,” for the celebrations, and who is scheduled to visit Poland this summer for World Youth Day in Krakow.