The chairman of the Polish Episcopate, Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, appealed to Poles for open and hospitable hearts for refugees from Ukraine who would like to find shelter in Poland fleeing the war. He recalled that for centuries, respecting Polish culture and law migrants, escaped from persecution and hatred and found refuge in Poland.

In his appeal delivered on Monday, the chairman of the Polish Episcopate thanked all those who responded to the appeal for prayer for peace in Ukraine on February 12. He noted that reports of a further escalation of tensions in Ukraine, and especially of the military operations of the so-called Russian separatists, including the shelling of a kindergarten in Donbas and a number of localities in the region, he took with heartache.

Archbishop Gądecki emphasized that everyone has the right to live in peace and security and that everyone has the right to seek the best conditions ensuring a safe life for themselves and their closest relatives. He added that in recent years Poland has opened its borders to newcomers from Ukraine who “live with us, work with us, pray in Polish churches and study in Polish schools”.

Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki appealed “Let our hospitality towards refugees find its concrete expression in the support and providing them with the help of our charitable organizations: Caritas Polska, diocesan and parish Caritas and other associations. Caritas Polska has prepared an additional support program for refugees from Ukraine in the case of a further escalation of tensions and military actions.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński