LONDON - 7 March 2008 - 260 words
Cardinal Cormac returns from visit to Poland
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, has returned a two-day visit to Warsaw, Poland. The visit, from 4-5 March, took place at the invitation of the Polish Episcopal Conference.
Cardinal Cormac said: "I would like to express my gratitude to Cardinal Józef Glemp, Primate of Poland, Archbishop Józef Michalik, President of the Polish Episcopal Conference, and to Archbishop Kazimierz Nycz of Warsaw, for their gracious hospitality during my stay in Poland."
"Whilst in Warsaw, I was privileged to visit Warsaw Cathedral in the company of Cardinal Józef Glemp. Rebuilt following its destruction during World War II, it stands as a symbol of the fortitude of the Polish nation and the continuing vitality of its Catholic faith."
"I was also very moved by my visit to the tomb of Fr Jerzy Popieluszko at the Church of St Stanislaw Kostka. Murdered by the Polish secret police in 1984, his pastoral ministry to those opposed to the oppression of the Communist era demonstrates the importance of defending truth and man's dignity."
During his visit to Warsaw, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor spoke to the 344th General Assembly meeting of the Polish Episcopal Conference about the pastoral care of Polish migrants in England and Wales.
Speaking before his departure from Poland, the Cardinal said: "It is important that we are able to ensure the pastoral care and spiritual well being of Polish migrants in England and Wales. This includes provision for the celebration of the sacraments in Polish as people must have the opportunity to celebrate their faith in ways they are used to."
"I am confident that the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and the Polish Episcopal Conference will be able to work together to put in place appropriate structures able to deal with the realities of migration in 21st century Europe."
"This will include, as we have agreed
today in Warsaw, the establishment of a working group made up
of representatives of our two Conferences, to advise how we can
together continue to be at the service of the people God has entrusted
to our care. In this, I am greatly heartened by the encouragement
given to us Bishops in Erga migrantes caritas Christi: "the
churches of their origin have the responsibility of cooperating
with the churches of arrival to facilitate efficacious and suitable
pastoral assistance."
Source: Archbishops House
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