Polish state, church officials discuss preparations for pope's visit

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, head of the Polish Bishops' Conference, have discussed preparations for Pope Leo XIV's planned visit to Poland.

Pope Leo XIV

Photo: EPA/CESARE ABBATE

The visit is expected to take place in 2028, although no exact date has been announced.

The foreign ministry said on X on Wednesday that the pope's pilgrimage "is an event that transcends current divisions and provides an opportunity for people from all backgrounds to work together."

It said the visit would be organized jointly by the government and the Catholic Church.

Wicepremier, minister spraw zagranicznych @sikorskiradek spotkał się z Arcybiskupem Tadeuszem Wojdą, Metropolitą Gdańskim oraz Przewodniczącym Konferencji Episkopatu Polski @EpiskopatNews.

Rozmowy dotyczyły rozpoczęcia przygotowań do pierwszej pielgrzymki papieża Leona XIV do… pic.twitter.com/TgKlIdZrBe

— Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP 🇵🇱 (@MSZ_RP) August 5, 2026

According to the ministry, formal invitations have been extended to Pope Leo by former President Andrzej Duda, his successor Karol Nawrocki, Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the Presidium of the Polish Bishops' Conference.

The foreign ministry said it would coordinate preparations on behalf of the government "given the international nature of the Holy Father's visit."

The ministry noted that Poland has hosted visits by three popes.

Polish-born Pope John Paul II visited his homeland eight times between 1979 and 2002. Pope Benedict XVI visited in 2006, while Pope Francis travelled to Poland for World Youth Day in 2016.

(mk/gs)