Accusing Cardinal Karol Wojtyła of Krakow or later Pope John Paul II of covering up pedophilia in the church was called reprehensible by Education and Science Minister Przemysław Czarnek on Monday.
Speaking to TVP3 Lublin about the allegations against Cardinal Karol Wojtyła and Pope John Paul II, the head of the Ministry of State and National Education stated that there was no doubt Wojtyła, the Cracow cardinal, regretted more than once a personal decision in the casting or naming of someone in this or that parish.
He added that no city president or mayor in Poland would not regret their choice of a school principal at times.
People make mistakes, he noted, but suggesting that any mistake makes Wojtyła or John Paul II responsible for covering up pedophilia in the church is unacceptable.
He described the attack on John Paul II as a systematic action built on falsehoods.
PO campaign
Referencing recent clashes among teenagers, the assault of a 16-year-old in Zamość and another in Pruszków, he argued that these incidents reflect a deliberate drift away from shared values in the spirit of do what you want. He urged a swift, principled response from society and institutions, framing the matter as a political campaign tactic by PO which would not be silenced.
He stated that this is a campaign move by the opposition and that voices in support of tradition should stand firm.
Member of Parliament Jacek Czerniak, from the left, asserted that St. John Paul II would have defended himself in this context. He argued there is no need for parliamentary resolutions in defense because defending the pope is not the parliament’s role, noting that the left previously voted against such a resolution on the agenda. He emphasized that defending faith is a concern of every citizen.
Deputy Minister of State Assets and MP Jan Kanthak of Solidarna Polska described John Paul II as a guiding authority and the most important figure of the 20th and 21st centuries. He argued that the left aims to strip society of ethical anchors, framing it as a culture war aimed at undermining the church.
MP Jan Łopata of the Polish Coalition suggested the timing of the report on John Paul II was deliberate, implying that the sources and motives would become clear with time. MP Jarosław Sachajko of Kukiz’15 called the development pure villainy, suggesting the report was designed to undermine the church and help the opposition.
TVN24 report
TVN24 aired Marcin Gutowski’s report Franciszkiska 3, examining what Pope John Paul II knew about pedophilia cases among priests. It covered three priests and the reaction of the Kraków metropolitan at the time, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla. Dutch journalist Ekke Overbeek, author of Maxima Culpa, was cited in relation to what the church concealed about John Paul II.
In response, the Sejm passed a resolution defending the good name of St. John Paul II, describing the campaign as disgraceful and largely based on materials from a communist era apparatus aimed at damaging the pope who is regarded as a pivotal figure in Polish history.
Parliamentary voting covered a broad spectrum of party lines. The resolution received broad support in the chamber, with a mix of parties and caucuses voting in favor and against, while several deputies did not vote. The discussion and tally reflected deep polarization over the pope’s legacy and the handling of related historical cases.
These developments came amid ongoing debates about accountability, national memory, and the role of the church in Polish public life. The overall discourse highlighted tensions between defending religious heritage and scrutinizing past actions connected to church leadership.