Beatification of Jerzy Popiełuszko

The beatification ceremony process of Father Jerzy Popiełuszko, a Roman Catholic priest who was assassinated on 19 October 1984, began in Warsaw's Piłsudski Square as it had amassed over 100,000 and was celebrated by 120 bishops and 1,600 priests, including cardinals William Levada, Stanislaw Dziwisz and Adam Maida.^[1]

In addition to cardinals present in the ceremony, 90-year-old Marianna Popiełuszko, mother of Father Jerzy, was also present for his beatification, prompting to tell the reporters that she felt "tears of joy".^[1][2]

Poland Post issued a set of stamps on that same day to mark the beatification.^[3]

The Roman Catholic Church started the process of his beatification with the declaration of nihil obstat (nothing against) on 15 March 1996 and held a diocesan process from 8 February 1997 to 8 February 2001. This conferred upon him the title of Servant of God. In 2008 the positio was submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and on 19 December 2009 it was announced that Pope Benedict XVI had approved the decree for the beatification of Father Jerzy.^[4]

On 6 June 2010, archbishop Angelo Amato, secretary of the Congregation for Beatification and Canonization, was presiding over the ceremony.

During the ceremony, archbishop Amato read Pope Benedict's Apostolic Letter in Latin to thousands of people who gathered. It was written that Father Jerzy was granted the title of Blessed by at the behest of Warsaw archbishop Kazimierz Nycz.^[5] The letter was followed by archbishop Nycz who then read it in Polish. Then archibishop Amato celebrated mass and gave the homily regarding Father Jerzy's courage and his dedication to the truth as he was treated harshly especially by secret agents.^[6] He also told those who gathered at the ceremony that the beatification is a "great gift for a great nation, whose book of holiness is enriched with another special page."^[5] While archbishop Amato was presiding over the ceremony, the principal relics of Father Jerzy were transferred to the Temple of Divine Providence, and they were resting in the Pantheon of Great Poles. Then, the relics were moved to the Chapel of Martyrdom, which was under construction at that time.^[7] The pilgrimage around the Piłsudski Square took 12 kilometers.^[8]

Mariana attended her son's beatification as she suffered the tragedy of her son's death 26 years ago. Some sources claimed that Mariana celebrated her 100th birthday, although she was 90 at the time of the event.^[8] Over 100,000 faithful people in the Piłsudski Square were gathered, along with 100 cardinals and bishops, as well as nearly 3,000 priests from Poland and abroad.^[8]

58-year-old Anna Zwierzynski also told Agence France-Presse that Father Jerzy is a hero that he knew the risk to his life, but he did not fear death and refused to be silent.^[9]

At the same day before the beatification of Father Jerzy, bishops read their pastoral letter. As bishops were reading the letter, the testimony of Father Jerzy emphasized that people in Poland need to unite while dealing with important issues, especially the persecution they received as Catholics, liberate themselves from hatred, and "overcome evil with good." The date of Father Jerzy's beatification had taken place on Thanksgiving Day. In addition to the beatification date, the bishops wrote that they were thankful for Divine Providence for their freedom and anything that leads to it, including the August Agreements in 1980 (which was the foundation of Solidarity), role models of Father Jerzy–Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński and Pope John Paul II–, vocation and ministry of Father Jerzy. On the 10th anniversary of Father Jerzy's death in 1994, bishops also quote the words of Pope John Paul II that Father Jerzy is declared a martyr of truth, justice, and freedom, and human dignity the latter defended. After the obligation of martial law in Poland, the bishops wrote and recalled the Masses for the homeland as these sermons are "calm and substantive" and are encouraged by Father Jerzy to defend human dignity and the "dignity of the nation, and above all, called for Christian witness in a difficult and painful reality." ^[10]

In 2017, Father Tomasz Kaczmarek was a postulator for the beatification of Father Jerzy. However, Father Tomasz was revealed that he had collaborated with the Security Service, a secret agency in Polish People's Republic that assassinated Father Jerzy in 1984.^[11] Tygodnik Powszechny reported that Father Tomasz was recruited by the Security Service, as they "took advantage of [him] to study in Rome and began applying for a passport." The reservation for Father Tomasz to postulate the beatification of Father Jerzy was removed as the former had a full knowledge of collaborating with the Security Service by providing information that "could be detrimental to Church affairs," although Father Tomasz refused at first.^[12]

Zbigniew Kotyłło, a painting artist in Lublin, is well known for the beatification portrait of Father Jerzy. Early life before the beatification process, Kotyłło won a national competition at the age of 16. In addition to the national competition he won, Kotyłło began his professional career at the Monument Conservation Studio in Lublin, as he was invited to Tallinn, which is the capital of Estonia. While several of his works were intended for beatification ceremonies, Koytłło won the competition hosted by the Warsaw Metropolitan Curia. Kotyłło also stated that he had gone to Father Jerzy's grave to pray.^[13]

Since Kotyłło won the competition, the beatification portrait of Father Jerzy is 210 x 145 cm and was admitted by Kotyłło to be the "best canvas, primer, and [of all] paints." The portrait of Father Jerzy is presented in "American frame," showing a depicted priest whose frame is from slightly above the knees to the top of his head. In addition to the appearance of Father Jerzy, the photos of Father Jerzy were used for painting.^[13]

Marking the 15th anniversary of the beatification in 2025, the Holy Masses for the Homeland were held on the last Sunday of the month, the Archdiocese of Warsaw announced.^[14]