A leading Polish cardinal has urged the Catholic Church to adopt a more compassionate and Christ-like approach in national discussions on migrants and refugees. This comes as tensions rise between the Polish government and the Vatican over inflammatory statements made by some Polish bishops
Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, in a pastoral letter addressed to the Archdiocese of Łódź, condemned the rise in hostile rhetoric. He warned that hate speech, fear, and stereotypes are replacing both human empathy and Gospel values in public conversations. He challenged Catholics who participate in these debates to represent Christ’s teachings faithfully. Those unwilling to do so, he added, should have the courage to remain silent rather than inflame the already heated discourse.
This message followed accusations from Poland’s Foreign Ministry directed at two prominent bishops. Bishop Wiesław Mering described Poland’s leaders as “political gangsters” and “people who call themselves Germans,” while Bishop Antoni Długosz warned of the “Islamicisation” of Europe and supported anti-migrant vigilante actions at the German border. The government reacted strongly, submitting a formal complaint to the Vatican. They requested disciplinary action and criticised the bishops for fueling nationalism and damaging Poland’s international image.
According to the government, the comments jeopardised Poland’s relations with Germany and harmed the democratic values the country upholds. The diplomatic note also expressed concern that the bishops’ remarks encouraged division within the Church and public distrust.
In Rome, Fr Dariusz Kowalczyk, a Jesuit theologian at the Pontifical Gregorian University, pushed back on the government’s response. He called the ministry’s formal protest “error-filled and ideologically motivated.” He argued that suppressing internal Church debates with political pressure does not solve the underlying tensions between migration policy, national identity, and religious values.
The cardinal’s call for kindness and restraint was also echoed in a prayer shared with the faithful, asking for the strength to speak with compassion and to see the dignity in every person, especially migrants and the displaced. It was a reminder that, even amid political strife, the Church’s mission must stay rooted in mercy and truth.