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Polish Catholic Church joins government in contingency planning

07.04.2026 15:45
Poland's Catholic Church is working with the government to draw up emergency plans in case of a war or major crisis, the head of the Polish Bishops' Conference has said.
St Stanislaus Church in Kolonia Polska, a village in southeastern Poland.
St Stanislaus' Church in Kolonia Polska, a village in southeastern Poland.Photo: Henryk Bielamowicz, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda told the PAP news agency that a dedicated working group, bringing together church bodies including Caritas Poland, the interior ministry and the defence ministry, is developing a joint action plan.

It covers the evacuation of cultural heritage sites, assistance to refugees, humanitarian corridors and securing shelter for civilians.

"There are concerns that war could reach Poland ... and we are not standing idle," Wojda said.

He added that in a crisis many Poles could turn to the Church for help before approaching local authorities.

Parish priests will be provided with a practical crisis handbook, and training workshops are already under way in some areas, he said.

The archbishop added that the government has committed to supplying parishes with emergency resources, including generators, medicines, water and hygiene supplies.

The Church's extensive network – Poland had over 10,000 parishes as of 2024 – is seen as a key asset in reaching communities quickly, particularly in smaller towns and villages.

The government said last month it was joining forces with church authorities to strengthen national resilience, including plans to use parish facilities as shelters and aid distribution points in times of crisis.

(ał/gs)

Source: PAP