Poland
Pope thanks Poles for clinging to faith in difficult times
By Yonat Shimron — July 28, 2016
CZESTOCHOWA, Poland -- The pope, whose main purpose in Poland is to preside at an international gathering of Catholic youth in Krakow, prayed before the shrine of the Black Madonna, an ancient Byzantine icon.
Pope Francis faces up to his followers’ fears
By Josephine McKenna — July 27, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis has a tough act to follow in the footsteps of his Polish predecessor as he visits Poland. His concern about the poor and the homeless sits in stark contrast to the Polish church’s conservative approaches.
Film explores hidden history of World War II: the rape of nuns
By Kimberly Winston — July 9, 2016
(RNS) A long-hidden World War II atrocity gets attention in an acclaimed new film.
Ex-Auschwitz SS guard convicted on 170,000 counts
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — June 17, 2016
Reinhold Hanning told the court in April, “I am ashamed that I saw injustice and never did anything about it and I apologize for my actions."
Pope to visit Auschwitz during trip to Poland in July
By RNS staff — June 9, 2016
(RNS) The visit will take place during Francis' trip to Krakow for an international gathering of Catholic youth.
Report: Krakow site not safe for July’s World Youth Day event
By Rosie Scammell — April 5, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Field of Mercy site near Krakow poses a “high risk for the life and health of people,” according to a report published by Polish television.
Polish abortion rights backers protest government push to ban abortion
By Reuters — April 3, 2016
Poland's Catholic bishops are pushing the government to ban abortion in the country that already has one of Europe's most restrictive abortion laws.
Polish vote marks resurgence of conservative Catholic values
By Reuters — October 28, 2015
WARSAW (Reuters) The staunchly Eurosceptic PiS, with a brand of patriotism infused with Catholic piety, takes over from the more secular-minded liberal Civic Platform, which led the country for the last eight years.
World Youth Day priest removed after reportedly fathering child
By Rosie Scammell — October 13, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Tomasz Kijowski met his 22-year-old partner at a planning meeting for the World Youth Day, to be held in Krakow next July, Italian media said.
I heard about the Iran deal while visiting a Nazi death camp (COMMENTARY)
By Jeffrey Salkin — July 20, 2015
(RNS) Why should the Jews, of all minority groups in our culture, be begrudged the emotional space in the public arena to speak of their legitimate fears?
What the Polish president could have said about his country’s Holocaust complicity (COMMENTARY)
By Jeffrey Salkin — April 23, 2015
(RNS) Who can deny that so many Poles were willing conspirators with the Nazis in the roundup of Jews and the wholesale destruction of European Jewish life?
Pope Francis calls for ‘truth’ in case of former ambassador accused of abuse
By Josephine McKenna — December 3, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Former Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski is the most senior Catholic official to be convicted by a Vatican body of sexually abusing minors.
Pope Francis orders accused envoy Jozef Wesolowski put under house arrest
By Josephine McKenna — September 23, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) A bishop from the Dominican Republic was recently reported saying he was shocked to see former Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski walking freely on the streets of central Rome.
Polish diplomat raises extradition for Vatican official accused of sex abuse
By Josephine McKenna — August 27, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Poland’s ambassador to the Holy See has forcefully condemned the alleged sexual abuse of children by a Polish-born former archbishop and Vatican diplomat, and said Warsaw is considering a fresh request to extradite Jozef Wesolowski to face trial in his homeland.
Vatican diplomat Jozef Wesolowski convicted of sexual abuse, defrocked from the priesthood
By Josephine McKenna — June 27, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski was removed from his post in the Dominican Republic and recalled to the Vatican last August amid claims that he had abused boys in Santo Domingo.
