11th June,1999. The joint chambers of the Polish Parliament give John Paul II a truly imperial welcome on his pilgrimage to Poland. The Pope addresses the MPs from the throne strewed with flowers that has specially been erected for the day.
This has been the first papal visit to the national parliament in the history of the Church.
11 czerwca 1999. Połączone izby polskiego parlamentu witają Jana Pawła II w iście imperialnym stylu w trakcie jego pielgrzymki do Polski. Papież przemawia do parlamentarzystów z ukwieconego tronu specjalnie wzniesionego na tą okazję.
To pierwsza w historii Kościoła wizyta papieska w narodowym parlamencie.****************************************
The English text - part2:
Nowadays, you, actually we have been passed down that heritage of those courageous and ambitious efforts for the sake of the Homeland. It depends on you what quality of freedom and democracy will be observed in Poland.
Our meeting here has various symbolic meanings. It has been the first time the Pope has addressed the joint chambers of the Polish parliament, the Polish Pope, in the presence of the executive power, the judicial power and the presence of the diplomatic corps. It's almost impossible not to mention the long, dated from 15th century, history of the Polish parliament as well as that glorious lawgiving wisdom of our ancestors who proclaimed the Constitution of May 3, 1791.
Today, right here, somewhat in a peculiar way, we're becoming conscious of the importance of the righteous law within the democratic state, which foundation should always be based on a human in the whole truth, his innate rights and the rights of the community that is called the nation. [applause]
I'm fully aware of the fact that being deprived of sovereignty and natural public life through all those years , it is not easy now to build a new democratic order with its institutions. That's why, at the very beginning, I wish to express my joy from our meeting here in the place where the law is introduced upon which the foundation of the new state is built together with its sovereign people. [applause]
I'd also like to wish the Polish parliament, while lawgiving, to be always focused on a human and his prosperity according to a classic quotation, "Hominum causa omne ius constitutum est" [applause]
- Not that bad with my Latin, isn't it? [laughter]
- Just like my generation. [applause]
In my New Year's address I have said, "If the preoccupation with the protection of the human dignity is the main rule for us to inspire and if the common good is the main goal of our efforts, strong and solid foundations for peace have been laid. On the other hand, if the human rights are neglected or violated, and if against the justice, the particular interests are above the common good, the seed of imminent chaos, riot and violence is sown. [applause]
It has been clearly stated in the Preamble of the Concordat between the Holy See and the Republic of Poland, "The fundamental issue for development of the free democratic people is the respect for a human being and his rights". The Church in Poland during post war rules of a totalitarian system often stood up for human rights and the rights of the nation. [applause]
Also now, in democracy, it wishes to contribute to public life and its law order built upon strong ethic foundations. The thing that is useful here is the upbringing to responsibility while using freedom both by an individual and by the whole nation; and, if need be, the warning against any threats that may be caused by downgrading tendencies, against downgrading visions of a man and his dignity. This belongs to an evangelical mission of the Church. Doing this, it makes its specific contribution to the issue of the protection of democracy at its roots. The place we're in lead us into a profound reflection about the responsibility for the regained freedom and the need for collaboration for the sake of the common good. We should bare in mind numerous heroic efforts of the Polish people within the last two centuries to regain its own sovereign state, which for many generations of our compatriots was only in dreams, passed down in family stories and prayers. First of all, I think about the period of Poland's Annexations followed by the struggle to regain the independence for the country that was wiped out from the map of Europe.
The lack of that most basic political structure, necessary for the life of the nation especially during the last world war, was so horrendous that when the biological existence of the nation became mortally endangered, it contributed to creating the Underground State that was unprecedented in the whole of Europe.
Before I came here, I had consecrated the memorial to the Underground State and its Home Army. [applause
****************************************
The English text - part3:
...this really moved me from deep within.
We all realize that our meeting here in the parliament would be impossible if it wasn't for the strong protest of the Polish workers on the Coast in that unforgettable August 1980.[applause]
It all wouldn't be possible without the Solidarity [applause]...which chose the peaceful way of struggle for human rights and for the rights of the nation. It also created the rule, "No Freedom Without Solidarity", the solidarity with another man, the solidarity crossing many different borders - class, ideological, cultural and even geographic ones, which was included in the Message to the Eastern Neighbours. [applause]
Despite sufferings, casualties and the abasements of the martial law, that peaceful struggle for free homeland and a democratic state had its consequences in the events of 1989 which started significant political and social transformations in Poland and Europe. [applause]
Not so long ago, I remembered the times with the federal chancellor Helmut Kohl at the meeting in Berlin during my visit to Germany. [applause]
We mustn't forget those days. Not only did they bring the awaited freedom, but also contributed to the fall of walls which separated the free world from the countries and nations of this part of Europe for half a century. Those historic transformations have entered the pages of history as an example to follow that in order to achieve social goals man can choose supreme spiritual values. First of all, man can and ought to choose love, brotherhood and solidarity and the respect for dignity of the human being, the values which proved crucial to victory in those days,... [applause]...without that horrible nuclear conflict.
The memory about the moral aspects of the Solidarity as well as our tragic historic experience should have its influence on the social life today, on the politicians' performances and any other public activities, especially the one which comes from the election and public trust. The service for the nation must always be aimed at the common good, which secures the welfare of everyone.
The Second Vatican Council states on the issue very clearly. "The political community exists, consequently, for the sake of the common good, in which it finds its full justification and significance, and the source of its inherent legitimacy. Indeed, the common good embraces the sum of those conditions of the social life whereby men, families and associations more adequately and readily may attain their own perfection... The social order and its development must invariably work to the benefit of the human person if the disposition of affairs is to be subordinate to the personal realm and not contrariwise... [applause] This social order requires constant improvement. It must be founded on truth, built on justice and animated by love; in freedom it should grow every day toward a more humane balance". These are quotations from the "Gaudium Et Spes".
The Polish tradition is not deprived of life examples totally devoted to the common good of our nation. Those examples of courage and humility, faithfulness to the ideals and sacrifice, generated the most beautiful emotions and attitudes among many Poles, who unselfishly made the ultimate sacrifice for Homeland in the most tragic period of time. It is obvious that the common good should be preoccupied with all citizens in any sector of the public life. The care for the common good is especially needed in political life. I especially mean those, who gave their lives to public activity as well as individual people. Performing political power, either in community or in the state institutions ought to be an unselfish service for man and the people deprived of seeking any private benefits over the common good of the entire nation. [applause]
I wish to recall "The Seym Speeches" by priest Piotr Skarga and his passionate address to the deputies and senators of The First Republic. "Have beautiful and wide open hearts!".
This has been the first papal visit to the national parliament in the history of the Church.
11 czerwca 1999. Połączone izby polskiego parlamentu witają Jana Pawła II w iście imperialnym stylu w trakcie jego pielgrzymki do Polski. Papież przemawia do parlamentarzystów z ukwieconego tronu specjalnie wzniesionego na tą okazję.
To pierwsza w historii Kościoła wizyta papieska w narodowym parlamencie.****************************************
The English text - part2:
Nowadays, you, actually we have been passed down that heritage of those courageous and ambitious efforts for the sake of the Homeland. It depends on you what quality of freedom and democracy will be observed in Poland.
Our meeting here has various symbolic meanings. It has been the first time the Pope has addressed the joint chambers of the Polish parliament, the Polish Pope, in the presence of the executive power, the judicial power and the presence of the diplomatic corps. It's almost impossible not to mention the long, dated from 15th century, history of the Polish parliament as well as that glorious lawgiving wisdom of our ancestors who proclaimed the Constitution of May 3, 1791.
Today, right here, somewhat in a peculiar way, we're becoming conscious of the importance of the righteous law within the democratic state, which foundation should always be based on a human in the whole truth, his innate rights and the rights of the community that is called the nation. [applause]
I'm fully aware of the fact that being deprived of sovereignty and natural public life through all those years , it is not easy now to build a new democratic order with its institutions. That's why, at the very beginning, I wish to express my joy from our meeting here in the place where the law is introduced upon which the foundation of the new state is built together with its sovereign people. [applause]
I'd also like to wish the Polish parliament, while lawgiving, to be always focused on a human and his prosperity according to a classic quotation, "Hominum causa omne ius constitutum est" [applause]
- Not that bad with my Latin, isn't it? [laughter]
- Just like my generation. [applause]
In my New Year's address I have said, "If the preoccupation with the protection of the human dignity is the main rule for us to inspire and if the common good is the main goal of our efforts, strong and solid foundations for peace have been laid. On the other hand, if the human rights are neglected or violated, and if against the justice, the particular interests are above the common good, the seed of imminent chaos, riot and violence is sown. [applause]
It has been clearly stated in the Preamble of the Concordat between the Holy See and the Republic of Poland, "The fundamental issue for development of the free democratic people is the respect for a human being and his rights". The Church in Poland during post war rules of a totalitarian system often stood up for human rights and the rights of the nation. [applause]
Also now, in democracy, it wishes to contribute to public life and its law order built upon strong ethic foundations. The thing that is useful here is the upbringing to responsibility while using freedom both by an individual and by the whole nation; and, if need be, the warning against any threats that may be caused by downgrading tendencies, against downgrading visions of a man and his dignity. This belongs to an evangelical mission of the Church. Doing this, it makes its specific contribution to the issue of the protection of democracy at its roots. The place we're in lead us into a profound reflection about the responsibility for the regained freedom and the need for collaboration for the sake of the common good. We should bare in mind numerous heroic efforts of the Polish people within the last two centuries to regain its own sovereign state, which for many generations of our compatriots was only in dreams, passed down in family stories and prayers. First of all, I think about the period of Poland's Annexations followed by the struggle to regain the independence for the country that was wiped out from the map of Europe.
The lack of that most basic political structure, necessary for the life of the nation especially during the last world war, was so horrendous that when the biological existence of the nation became mortally endangered, it contributed to creating the Underground State that was unprecedented in the whole of Europe.
Before I came here, I had consecrated the memorial to the Underground State and its Home Army. [applause
****************************************
The English text - part3:
...this really moved me from deep within.
We all realize that our meeting here in the parliament would be impossible if it wasn't for the strong protest of the Polish workers on the Coast in that unforgettable August 1980.[applause]
It all wouldn't be possible without the Solidarity [applause]...which chose the peaceful way of struggle for human rights and for the rights of the nation. It also created the rule, "No Freedom Without Solidarity", the solidarity with another man, the solidarity crossing many different borders - class, ideological, cultural and even geographic ones, which was included in the Message to the Eastern Neighbours. [applause]
Despite sufferings, casualties and the abasements of the martial law, that peaceful struggle for free homeland and a democratic state had its consequences in the events of 1989 which started significant political and social transformations in Poland and Europe. [applause]
Not so long ago, I remembered the times with the federal chancellor Helmut Kohl at the meeting in Berlin during my visit to Germany. [applause]
We mustn't forget those days. Not only did they bring the awaited freedom, but also contributed to the fall of walls which separated the free world from the countries and nations of this part of Europe for half a century. Those historic transformations have entered the pages of history as an example to follow that in order to achieve social goals man can choose supreme spiritual values. First of all, man can and ought to choose love, brotherhood and solidarity and the respect for dignity of the human being, the values which proved crucial to victory in those days,... [applause]...without that horrible nuclear conflict.
The memory about the moral aspects of the Solidarity as well as our tragic historic experience should have its influence on the social life today, on the politicians' performances and any other public activities, especially the one which comes from the election and public trust. The service for the nation must always be aimed at the common good, which secures the welfare of everyone.
The Second Vatican Council states on the issue very clearly. "The political community exists, consequently, for the sake of the common good, in which it finds its full justification and significance, and the source of its inherent legitimacy. Indeed, the common good embraces the sum of those conditions of the social life whereby men, families and associations more adequately and readily may attain their own perfection... The social order and its development must invariably work to the benefit of the human person if the disposition of affairs is to be subordinate to the personal realm and not contrariwise... [applause] This social order requires constant improvement. It must be founded on truth, built on justice and animated by love; in freedom it should grow every day toward a more humane balance". These are quotations from the "Gaudium Et Spes".
The Polish tradition is not deprived of life examples totally devoted to the common good of our nation. Those examples of courage and humility, faithfulness to the ideals and sacrifice, generated the most beautiful emotions and attitudes among many Poles, who unselfishly made the ultimate sacrifice for Homeland in the most tragic period of time. It is obvious that the common good should be preoccupied with all citizens in any sector of the public life. The care for the common good is especially needed in political life. I especially mean those, who gave their lives to public activity as well as individual people. Performing political power, either in community or in the state institutions ought to be an unselfish service for man and the people deprived of seeking any private benefits over the common good of the entire nation. [applause]
I wish to recall "The Seym Speeches" by priest Piotr Skarga and his passionate address to the deputies and senators of The First Republic. "Have beautiful and wide open hearts!".
****************************************
The English text - part4:
... love at your homes. Don't close it in your chambers and vaults. Let it pour down on all of you like a river from the high mountains pour down on the fields. Whoever is in the service of the Homeland, he is in the service of himself since all good is within it. [applause] Such an attitude towards the service for the common good is expected from the lay faithful first. Here's the quotation from the apostolic exhortation Christifideles Laici, " (...) The lay faithful are never to relinquish their participation in the public life, that is, in the many different economic, social, legislative areas which are intended to promote organically the common good. Together with all the people they must infuse the spirit of the Gospel into the spheres of life, thus offering the unique contribution to the promotion of the common good. These are the dictates of the conscience coming from their Christian vocation."
The problems which challenge democratic states require solidarity from all people of good will, regardless of the political affiliation or ideology, all people who want to build the common good of the Homeland. Respecting the autonomy of the political communities, we must remember that it can't mean the independence from the moral values. Also the pluralistic states cannot resign from the moral values in the public life.
After the fall of the ideologies (I'm quoting my words from the Veritatis Splendor), the ideologies that bound the political life to a totalitarian vision of the world, the Marxism first of all, appears a new threat of denying the basic human rights as well as the threat of merging the religious needs of a human being into politics, the needs that are kept deep within human hearts. This is a new threat to merge a moral relativism into a democracy,... [applause] ...which radically deprives the civic community of the moral reference point that makes distinguishing between good and bad impossible. Thus, if the ultimate truth that is a guide to a political life does not exist, it becomes easy to subordinate the ideas and beliefs to the will of the rulers. History teaches that democracy without values easily turns into a blatant or disguised totalitarism. [applause]
Sharing our joy from the positive changes we can observe in Poland right before our eyes, we should also bear in mind that the free people needs the values that secure the entire common good. All economic transformations are due to make the world more humanistic and righteous. [applause]
I hope all Polish politicians and everyone who's engaged in the public life will never stop making their efforts to build a state that takes special care of the family, human life, upbringing of the next generations, which respects the right to work, embraces all the matters of the entire people,....[applause],... and is sensitive to the needs of every human being, especially the weak and the poor ones. [applause]
The events in Poland from ten years ago gave a chance for the European continent to find its way to unity. I've spoken about it many times using a metaphor of two lungs that Europe should breathe with, combining the cultures of the East and the West. Instead of the spiritual unity, we can observe new divisions and conflicts. This new situation brings to politicians, culture makers as well as to all the Christians, an urgent need for making new efforts towards the integration of Europe. During the pilgrimage in time, the Church bound its mission with Europe more closely than with any other continent. The spiritual countenance of Europe has been shaped by the efforts of the great missionary men and the testimony of the martyrs. It's been shaped in sanctuaries, erected with extreme devotion, and in the centers of the contemplation life. It was also shaped in humanistic Universities. The Church, summoned to take care of the spiritual development of the human being, has always endowed the European culture with the same values. It's always claimed that the real cultural policy should embrace the human being in his complexity, i.e. in all personal dimensions, not excluding the ethic and the religious ones. How poor would the European culture be now if it hadn't been for the Christian inspiration? [applause]
That's why the Church warns against the designs for Europe's unity in economical and political aspects only. [applause
.
****************************************
The English text - part5:
...against the unconditional attitude to consumptionism. If the new unity of Europe is to be stable, we should build it upon the spiritual values that once laid its foundation, bearing in mind the variety of cultures and traditions of particular nations. It should be one indivisible European community of spiritual values. Here, in this place, I wish to recall my appeal to the Old Continent, "Europe, open wide the door for Christ". [applause]
By the way, I also wish to express my profound gratitude for your common persistent efforts to find and stabilize the proper safe place for Poland in unifying Europe within the world. [applause] Poland is fully entitled to take part in the development of the world, especially in the development of Europe. Poland's joining the European Union is endorsed by the Holy See from the very beginning. [applause]
Historical experience of the Polish people, its spiritual and cultural wealth may well contribute to the common good of the entire human family, especially to strengthen peace and security in Europe. This year we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II and the 10th anniversary of the events I've already mentioned. It should be a thought-provoking opportunity for all Poles to rethink the gift of freedom which is a task to do at the same time,... [applause] ...the freedom that demands responsibility and constant efforts to make it strong.
I wish that wonderful testimony of love to Homeland, of the selflessness and heroism, which are so abundant in our history, become a common challenge to make the sacrifice for the national interests, since the best use of freedom is charity, which takes concrete form in self-giving and in service. (a quote from Redeptor Hominis)
To everybody here and to all my natives, I wish they will cross the threshold of the Third Millennium with the willing to build the culture of life which is based on universal values of peace, solidarity, justice and freedom. May the Holy Spirit endlessly supports the process of the great transformation that aims at renewal of the land, of this our shared land.
[standing ovation]
[all sing the Anthem of Poland , Jeszcze Polska Nie Zginela]
Poland is not lost as long as we live
What foreign invaders have seized,
with sabers we shall retrieve.
March, march, Dabrowski
From Italy to Poland.
Under your command,
we shall return to our homeland.]
[Pope]
Who would believe it? In such a uniform... [laughter]
However, this all has happened to us indeed! [applause]
[all sing] Sto Lat (One Hundred Years)
[Pope] Thank you very much indeed.
[all chant] Give us blessings! Give us blessings!...
[Pope] May God Almighty bless you, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
[Pope] Viva the king! Viva the nation! Viva all social classes! ( a very old historic Polish exclamation) [laughter and applause]
[all chant]
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!...
May God Reward You! May God Reward You! May God Reward You!
Godspeed! Godspeed! Godspeed! Godspeed! Godspeed!
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