The appeal was released by the Council for Social Affairs of the Polish Bishops' Conference (KEP), on the 34th anniversary of Centesimus Annus, a key social encyclical by Pope John Paul II. The 1991 encyclical outlines principles for democratic governance rooted in human dignity and the common good.
“Catholics, as well as all people who care for the good of the homeland, should be guided in their vote by principles that make both individual and social life dignified and fulfilling,” the bishops wrote, adding that such values were central to the teachings of Saint John Paul II.
The bishops said that taking part in elections is not only a civic obligation, but also "a duty of every Catholic and every person concerned with the common good."
Citing Centesimus Annus, the council reaffirmed the Church’s support for democracy as a system that enables citizen participation and limits abuses of power. The bishops warned against political elites "who seek power for selfish or ideological reasons," and emphasised that “democracy must not favour the emergence of narrow ruling groups who usurp power in the state.”
Central to any democratic system, the bishops wrote, is respect for human dignity. “Political systems that deny the dignity of the person often distort the very essence of democracy and contribute to new forms of totalitarianism,” the statement reads.
Reiterating John Paul II’s teaching on human rights, the bishops named "the right to life from the moment of conception," the right to family, to work, and to religious and civic freedom as essential in a lawful and just society.
They also warned political parties not to place themselves above moral values, insisting that “freedom without truth leads to moral chaos,” and that democracy loses its meaning when it ignores the truth about human nature and the common good.
The upcoming presidential election will be the first since the change of government in 2023, when the right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) party lost power to a centrist coalition after eight years in office.
The Polish political landscape remains highly polarised, with debates over democracy, rule of law and the role of religion in public life continuing to shape public discourse.
Poles will head to the ballot box on May 18 to elect their next president. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff will be held on June 1.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP