The discussion centers on the idea of a secular state rather than targeting any individual. In a statement to PAP, Włodzimierz Czarzasty, a deputy chairman of the Sejm and co-chair of the New Left, emphasized that actions like demolishing monuments or renaming streets do not advance the goal of secular governance and are unlikely to produce meaningful results.
In an interview with Gazeta Wyborcza, former Member of Parliament Stefan Niesiołowski commented on reports about Pope John Paul II, suggesting that all monuments honoring him should be removed in a discreet manner.
He argued that new facts will surface which show that the Pope did not adequately address cases within the Church. He urged a gradual rethinking of how such historical figures are remembered while acknowledging that monuments might eventually be relocated or removed.
PiS’s alibi
Agata Diduszko-Zyglewska, a left-leaning councilor in Warsaw, stated that the left would support proposals to rename avenues or institutions named after John Paul II or other Polish church patrons, though such proposals would not be pursued without broad consensus. Together with Councilor Marek Szolc, she submitted an interpellation to Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski calling for a center dedicated to John Paul II to be transformed into a religiously neutral institution that would foster intercultural and religious dialogue.
In response, Włodzimierz Czarzasty reiterated to PAP that the club’s stance is clear: demolishing monuments or renaming streets does not align with the pursuit of a secular state and does not resolve underlying issues. He compared such proposals to debates about the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, suggesting they fail to explain the broader historical context of the era. He described the matter as an alibi used by some to avoid addressing secular state questions.
When the topic turns to a secular state, including equal treatment of clergy under the law, taxation, customs duties, and moving religious instruction to catechetical rooms, the narrative circulated by some is framed as an attack on John Paul II. The aim, according to supporters of secular reform, is to discuss the state’s neutrality rather than to critique a specific individual.
As Czarzasty underscored, removing John Paul II’s monuments or renaming streets will not by itself build a secular state.
Storm after TVN 24 material
On March 6, a TVN 24 report titled Franciszką 3 explored what the then metropolitan of Kraków, Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, knew about priestly cases of misconduct between 1964 and 1978. The report highlighted the experiences of three priests, Bolesław Saduś, Eugeniusz Surgent, and Józef Loranc, and examined the metropolitan’s responses at the time. Dutch journalist Ekke Overbeek, the author of Maxima Culpa, contributed perspectives on what the church has concealed regarding John Paul II.
On March 9, a Sejm resolution was adopted to defend the good name of St. John Paul II, condemning what it described as a disgraceful media campaign. The vote totaled 271 in favor, 43 against, with 4 abstentions and 142 deputies not voting. The resolution signaled parliamentary support for protecting the pope’s legacy in the face of ongoing scrutiny.
The discussions continue to unfold as part of a broader debate about history, accountability, and the role of public memory in shaping contemporary national values. The conversations emphasize how political actors frame secularism, the place of religious figures in public life, and the ways institutions respond to past misconduct allegations while pursuing inclusive governance.