Polish bishops urge de-escalation in Constitutional Tribunal dispute

The bishops' statement

The Presidium of the Conference of the Polish Episcopate (KEP) issued a statement on Saturday, 31 October 2026, voicing deep concern about the events unfolding around the Constitutional Tribunal. The document is dated Warsaw, 31 October 2026, and is signed by Tadeusz Wojda, archbishop metropolitan of Gdańsk and chairman of the conference, together with Józef Kupny, archbishop metropolitan of Wrocław and deputy chairman, and Marek Marczak, the conference's secretary general. The bishops wrote that the long-running dispute over the constitutional foundations of the state does not serve national unity, and that its escalation is pushing the country toward a profound state crisis. Nasz Dziennik printed the full text, which closes with a prayer for the homeland attributed to Piotr Skarga.

“We are observing with great concern the events taking place around the Constitutional Tribunal.”

Appeal for dialogue

Rather than assigning blame, the bishops wrote that it is not the Church's role to decide the causes of the dispute or who is responsible for its lack of resolution. They nonetheless asked that the conflict not be escalated, that constructive dialogue begin, and that all difficulties be settled peacefully, for the good of the homeland and social peace.

“We appeal for not escalating the conflict, for constructive dialogue and for the peaceful resolution of all difficulties.”

The statement addressed people of goodwill, asking them to back every effort toward national agreement and reconciliation, and asked believers to pray for Poland. It also asked for prayer for those who govern and for all with responsibility in public life, so that care for citizens and the common good becomes their first duty.

Reports of police at the tribunal

wPolityce reported that an attempt to take over the Constitutional Tribunal by force was under way, and that police units sent by the government of the 13 December coalition were stationed on the tribunal's premises. The outlet linked the move to the team of Donald Tusk and said that voices of outrage and criticism of the government's actions were coming from many sides. No official government statement on the police deployment appears in the material available. The bishops' statement itself does not mention the police.

Prayer at Jasna Góra

RMF reported that the Pauline monastery at Jasna Góra had also called for unbroken prayer for the homeland, which took on particular significance on Saturday. Marcin Ciechanowski, director of the monastery's press office, wrote that the sanctuary has long been a place where Poles seek reconciliation, and that the country's fate, its state order and public dialogue are being entrusted to Our Lady.

“Jasna Góra has for centuries remained a place where Poles seek reconciliation.”

The Mass for the homeland is celebrated every day at 15:30 in the Chapel of Our Lady, a practice RMF said reaches back to the period of martial law. Each evening at 21:00 the Jasna Góra Apel takes place, during which the faithful entrust Poland and the Church to the Virgin's care.