WARSAW (POLAND)
Konferencja Episkopatu Polski (Polish Bishops' Conference)
March 13, 2026
Parish life, religious education in schools, and the Commission of independent experts to investigate the phenomenon of sexual abuse of minors in the Catholic Church in Poland were among the topics addressed by the Polish bishops during the press conference following the conclusion of the 404th Plenary Assembly of the Polish Bishops’ Conference in Warsaw.
So that the parish may be a living community
“The main theme of the 404th Plenary Assembly of the Episcopate was the revitalization of parish life. It is a very current and important issue today,” said Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, SAC, Metropolitan of Gdańsk and President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference.
“We also invited representatives from other European episcopates to share their experiences in this regard. We received an interesting overview of the pastoral situation in different countries,” he noted. “They are facing the same challenges as we are – how and what to do so that the parish becomes a living community,” he explained. He added that another important aspect discussed was the missionary dimension of parish life.
The second topic, as explained by the President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, concerned the Commission of independent experts to investigate the phenomenon of sexual abuse of minors in the Catholic Church in Poland.
Another issue discussed, Archbishop Wojda added, was “the need to provide spiritual accompaniment to people experiencing crises of identity related to faith and unbelief.” This includes both the ministry of exorcists and support for those in need of spiritual assistance. For this purpose, the bishops decided to establish at the Catholic Academy in Warsaw a study program preparing priests for the ministry of spiritual liberation.
The three-semester program will be offered exclusively to presbyters who receive a recommendation from their diocesan bishop. “The presbyters will receive additional preparation through lectures and practical workshops covering theology, philosophy, canon law, psychology, and psychiatry. This is extremely important so that those engaged in this ministry rely not only on personal experience or their seminary formation but also receive a concrete academic formation,” he emphasized.
Archbishop Wojda also indicated that the bishops addressed the issues of peace, ongoing wars, and assistance for Ukraine. He reported that, as of now, the amount collected during the nationwide collection organized by Caritas Poland in the dioceses on February 15 totals 3.8 million PLN, although not all diocesan Caritas organizations have yet completed the counting and transfer of the collected funds.
A Growing Hunger for the Word of God Is Being Observed in Parishes
Bishop Andrzej Czaja, Bishop of Opole and Chairman of the Pastoral Commission of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, also referred to the main theme of the Plenary Assembly, which was the parish. He recalled that the bishops focused on key areas of parish life: Christian initiation and the liturgical–prayer dimension, the Word of God and parish catechesis, fraternity and the diaconia of charity, as well as the synodal style of parish governance.
Bishop Czaja noted that Christian initiation is not only about preparing people to receive a sacrament, but also about introducing them into the community “so as to open them to Jesus – that is, to awaken a personal faith.” He added that the value and importance of celebrating the liturgy were also emphasized. A proposal was made to establish liturgical teams that would help the faithful participate more deeply in the Church’s liturgy.
The Bishop of Opole acknowledged that a growing hunger for the Word of God can be observed in parishes. For this reason, preparations are also underway, as he stated, for ministries dedicated to this area.
Referring to parish catechesis, the bishop noted that it is directed not only to children and young people but also to adults.
Speaking about the charitable dimension of parish life, Bishop Czaja assessed that “we must move from the level of charity to the level of fraternity.” He explained that this means recognizing Christ in the person who comes to us. In this spirit, he added, diocesan Caritas teams should be renewed and diocesan almoners appointed.
With regard to governing the parish in a synodal spirit, the Bishop of Opole emphasized the importance of parish pastoral and economic councils. “Good formation in this area is necessary,” he noted, adding that “synodality must go hand in hand with collegiality.”
Bishop Czaja also indicated that the bishops approved the theme of the new pastoral program of the Church in Poland for the year 2026/2027, which will be: “The Parish as a Missionary Community.” In accordance with the guidelines of the final document of the Synod on Synodality, the program is intended to serve the renewal of parishes in a synodal and missionary key.
The Situation Concerning Religious Education in Schools Is Harmful to Students and Teachers
The current situation regarding religious education in schools was addressed by Bishop Wojciech Osial, Bishop of Łowicz and Chairman of the Commission of the Polish Bishops’ Conference for Catholic Education. He admitted that “the situation is not good and is harmful to students who attend religious education classes and to teachers of religious education.” He added that changes in the organization of religion classes were introduced in violation of the law. He also noted that the bishops are appealing for the introduction of a mandatory choice between religious education and ethics classes.
Bishop Osial explained that the bishops were informed that the Commission for Catholic Education had approved a new religious education curriculum for schools, prepared according to the revised core curriculum. He indicated that the first textbooks will be introduced starting September 1, 2027, gradually, year by year, at the respective educational levels.
“We continually emphasize the necessity of parish catechesis,” he said, adding that this does not mean abandoning religious education classes in schools. He also informed that work on a document intended for parish catechesis is nearing completion.
The Chairman of the Commission for Catholic Education also pointed out that the bishops are asking that health education be entrusted to parents, so that “parents themselves decide whether their children will participate in these classes,” particularly because some of the content touches upon worldview and religious beliefs, as well as ethical and moral principles.
The Final Form of the Commission Will Be Developed Once Its Chairperson Is Appointed
Bishop Sławomir Oder, Bishop of Gliwice, expressed his satisfaction with the decision of the Polish Bishops’ Conference to establish a Commission of Independent Experts to Investigate the Phenomenon of Sexual Abuse of Minors in the Catholic Church in Poland. He noted that the process of establishing the Commission has been relatively long. He recalled that he himself had been asked by the Polish Bishops’ Conference to organize a team tasked with preparing the documentation necessary for the creation of the Commission. The starting point, he explained, were the documents prepared by the Primate of Poland, Archbishop Wojciech Polak.
He outlined the stages in the establishment of the Commission. “The set of documents prepared by my team and my collaborators provides a certain legal path that allows for the creation and later functioning of the Commission in a reasonably efficient manner, while guaranteeing – according to our intentions – its completely independent character,” Bishop Oder explained.
The bishop indicated that an initial step toward beginning the work was the signing of the Agreement on the Establishment of the Commission of Independent Experts to Investigate the Phenomenon of Sexual Abuse of Minors in the Catholic Church in Poland. This agreement is concluded between the Polish Bishops’ Conference, the Conference of Major Superiors of Male Religious Orders in Poland, and the Conference of Major Superiors of Female Religious Congregations in Poland, since the Commission will examine this phenomenon across the entire Church.
“This document refers in a very general way to the relationship between the Bishops’ Conference and the religious orders and establishes a general framework for relations with the Commission that has been established,” he explained.
The second document prepared, Bishop Oder noted, concerns the Rules of Operation of the Commission of Independent Experts to Investigate the Phenomenon of Sexual Abuse of Minors in the Catholic Church in Poland. The third document prepared and adopted by the Plenary Assembly is the Statute regulating the functioning of the Commission.
“The first two documents are in their final form. However, due to the nature of the Commission, which in the sphere of canon law has the legal personality of a public juridical person, we will also seek to obtain such legal personality within the state legal system. Therefore, the Statute will be submitted to the relevant state authorities in order to obtain this status,” he explained, adding that the document will most likely undergo corrections by the Ministry.
The Bishop of Gliwice informed that the final form of the Commission will be developed once the chairperson of the Commission has been appointed, in dialogue with the bishops and the presidents of the conferences of religious orders.
Bishop Oder also indicated that the Commission’s work will cover the period from 1945 until the moment of the Commission’s establishment. The Commission is expected to work for three years, although this period may be extended if necessary.
Complete Independence and Credibility of the Commission
Archbishop Wojciech Polak, Primate of Poland and Delegate of the Polish Bishops’ Conference for the Protection of Children and Youth, thanked Bishop Oder for presenting the stages completed so far in establishing the Commission. He noted that work on the Commission has been ongoing for nearly three years, but that the starting point had always been very clear.
“Now that the Commission has been established as an ecclesiastical juridical person – thereby emphasizing its independence from the Polish Bishops’ Conference and from other entities with which it may conclude specific agreements or arrangements – the Commission has come into being, and the process of selecting its members is now beginning,” he explained.
The Primate pointed out that the documents mentioned by Bishop Oder are not an exact copy of those previously prepared by his own team, which were much more concise, whereas the documents prepared by Bishop Oder present the principles proposed by his team in a much broader form.
Archbishop Polak also noted that in order to safeguard the Commission’s independence, further documents – such as internal regulations or agreements – will be prepared together with the future chairperson of the Commission and with the jurisdictions of the religious orders.
“This is to ensure that there is no suspicion that we want to limit the freedom of the Commission or of its chairperson, but rather that the Commission has complete independence and the credibility of its work fully guaranteed,” he stressed.
The Primate also explained that, according to the approved statute, he has been tasked – as the Delegate of the Polish Bishops’ Conference for the Protection of Children and Youth – with identifying a candidate for chairperson and presenting the candidacy to the Permanent Council of the Polish Bishops’ Conference and to both conferences of religious superiors. After their approval, the candidate will then be presented to the Plenary Assembly of the Bishops’ Conference.
“The credibility and independence of this Commission will ultimately be based on the authority of the person who accepts the task of chairing it,” he said.
The Primate also expressed gratitude to victims of abuse for not losing faith in the process of establishing the Commission during these more than two years of work. He explained that victims will not be members of the Commission, but this does not mean they will not be involved in its work. He added that expert teams will also be created to cooperate with the Commission.
“The Commission is an opportunity for victims to be heard, and that space will remain open,” he emphasized.
Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference