Pope Leo XIV honours Wyszyński and Mindszenty, 70 years after their release

Pope honours two freed primates

Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to two cardinals at his general audience in St Peter's Square on Wednesday, 4 November. The Polish primate Stefan Wyszyński, now blessed, and the Hungarian primate József Mindszenty had been imprisoned by the communist authorities and were released in 1956, 70 years before this audience. Addressing Polish pilgrims, the pope recalled the encyclical Laetamur admodum, which Pius XII issued at the time of the release. Citing it, he called for recognition that peace is built on justice, respect for the law and dialogue, not on violence. He closed the greeting by blessing everyone present.

Peace, development and the Council

The pope's catechesis, devoted to the documents of the Second Vatican Council, cited the Council fathers' warning that inequality linked to an unjust development that does not respect creation endangers world peace. He said that this vision had been borne out in the closing decades of the last century and is even more visible today. Engagement in the economy and politics, guided by service and sound cooperation, is a way of building peace. Summarising the catechesis for Polish readers, VaticanNews said Gaudium et spes places work at the centre of economic development and holds that political authority should serve the common good, and it also pointed to the universal destination of goods. Quoting his predecessor Francis, the pope described war as a failure of politics and humanity and a shameful capitulation.

Constitutional Tribunal context

Some Polish outlets asked whether the remarks alluded to a dispute over the Constitutional Tribunal. Demonstrations took place in front of the Tribunal building after a pause in the duties of its president, Bogdan Święczkowski, and its vice-president, Bartłomiej Sochański, was announced on Friday, 30 October. Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska said she is taking over the president's duties. The pope's remarks did not mention the Tribunal, and it is unclear whether they referred to that situation.

Pilgrims and the trip ahead

Pilgrims at the audience included members of the Kraków Archers' Brotherhood, who came to venerate relics of John Paul II, their honorary brother. Groups from an association for people with disabilities and their families in Chełm Śląski, from St Michael the Archangel parish in Warsaw and from St Gertrude parish in Franklin Park, in the Chicago archdiocese, also attended, as did pilgrims from the St Bogumil march in Uniejów, in the Włocławek diocese. The audience also included individual pilgrims from Poland and abroad. The pope asked for prayers that the mission be blessed in Uruguay and Peru, countries he described as close to him. He said he departs on Friday, 6 November for an apostolic journey to both countries.