The President of the Institute of National Remembrance, Karol Nawrocki, Ph.D took part in the National Papal March held in Warsaw on 19 October. The event, organised on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the martyrdom of Blessed Father Jerzy Popieluszko, brought together thousands of people wishing to honour the memory of both Father Popieluszko and Saint John Paul II.

Today is the 40th anniversary of the abduction and martyrdom of Blessed Father Jerzy Popieluszko, but it is also a National Day of Remembrance of the Unbroken Clergy. This is important. Because these two elements cannot be separated - the cult of Blessed Father Jerzy and the remembrance of the extraordinary merits of the Polish Church. The Church did not serve with fighting, it did not have weapons in its hands. Priests did not fight with a rifle, but with a rosary in their hand, as the tradition of their predecessors had commanded them, said the Polish President to those gathered.

The march began at 1:00 pm. at the Castle Square and led through the centre of the capital to the Blessed Jerzy Popieluszko shrine in Żoliborz, where a Mass was celebrated at 16:00, presided over by Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz. The service was attended by the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda.

The march was organised amid challenges and attempts to undermine the teachings of Pope John Paul II. The Institute of National Remembrance supported the event by providing educational materials.

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During the march, the President of the IPN, Karol Nawrocki, Ph.D, together with the Director of the IPN Office of National Education Adam Pleskaczynski, Ph.D. laid a wreath on the grave of Blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko.

Holy masses were held in many Polish cities to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the martyrdom of Blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko. In 2018, the Polish Parliament adopted the act establishing the National Day of Remembrance for Steadfast Clergy. It is celebrated on 19 October in tribute to heroes, steadfast defenders of faith and independent Poland.

Watch a short video about Blessed Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko:

The IPN Deputy President Prof. Karol Polejowski participated in a solemn Mass held at the Maritime Mission Church of the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady in Gdańsk. The ceremony was presided over by Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski, Metropolitan of Krakow.

During celebrations of the National Day of Remembrance for Steadfast Clergy in Niepokalanów, the IPN Deputy President Mateusz Szpytma, Ph.D. laid a wreath at the St. Maximilian Kolbe memorial and took part in the holy mess in the nearby church.