Two-day observances commemorating the 25th anniversary of the murder of ‘Solidarity priest’, Father Jerzy Popieluszko have began today.
Click on the audio icon above to listen to the report by Michal Kubicki.
Father Popieluszko was murdered by the Communist secret police on 19 October 1984, events depicted in the 1988 movie To kill a priest, starring Tim Roth and directed by Agnieszka Holland.
“It is important that we do not treat this day like a jubilee,” Metropolitan of Warsaw, Archbishop Kazimierz Nycz told Polish Radio.
We should remember it as a warning against what hatred can do – hatred towards faith, the Church and ‘other’ people.”
A commemorative run in tribute to the killed priest has begun in Bydgoszcz, central Poland. Around 300 participants have shown up at the starting line of the 110-kilometer relay run, with the ages of participants ranging from 15 to 65 years. The finishing line is located in Włocławek, where a special mass to pray for the beatification of Father Popiełuszko was held earlier today.
Freedom is in us, a movie based on the life of Popieluszko was released in Poland this year, directed by Rafal Wieczynski. (ab/pg)
Related stories:
Remembering Solidarity priest - audio , polishradio.pl 15.10.2009
Popieluszko film shown in Rome , polishradio.pl 19.10.2009
Vatican delegation visit Popieluszko grave , polishradio.pl 19.05.2009
Father Popieluszko beatification process speeds up , polishradio.pl 4.02.2009
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