English Section

Film on Polish Catholic leader premieres on day of his beatification

12.09.2021 13:00
A new film telling the story of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, a prominent Polish Catholic churchman who became a hospital chaplain during the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, premieres on the day when the Cardinal is beatified.
Stefan Wyszyński.
Stefan Wyszyński.NAC

 The movie, entitled “Wyszyński - Revenge or Forgiveness”, tells the story of Lieutenant Stefan Wyszyński, an underground Home Army chaplain who during the Warsaw Uprising operated under the pseudonym “Radwan III”.

 In an interview with public broadcaster Polish Radio, director Tadeusz Syka said that this is a movie with a strong message for young people.

“It's a production in which everyone will find something for themselves, regardless of whether they’re believers or not, because it's a movie about a man, his problems, dilemmas, in the face of war”, Syka told Polish Radio.

 Wyszyński is played by Ksawery Szlenkier, who said that the movie let him discover a hidden truth about the Cardinal, who during the Uprising struggled with suffering, pain, death, and served young people as a chaplain. “It was a picture of a sincere, good man”, the actor added.

 The patronage over the film is held by the Ministry of Culture, National Heritage and Sport.

 Wyszyński was ordained a priest in 1924 at the age of 23. He then studied in Poland and abroad for several years before taking residence in the city of Włocławek, north-central Poland, where he taught at a seminary and served the local community.

 After World War II, Wyszyński was made a bishop and received a cardinal’s red hat in 1953. From 1948 until his death he was at the helm of the Catholic Church in Poland as its Primate.

 Wyszyński was also known for his resistance to communism and for his efforts to protect the Catholic Church when Poland was under communist rule. Between 1953 and 1956 he was imprisoned by the communists.

 He died of cancer on May 28, 1981, at the age of 79.

 Wyszyński’s beatification was delayed from last year due to the pandemic.

 In the Catholic Church, beatification is one step short of being declared a saint.

 "“Wyszyński - Revenge or Forgiveness” goes on general release in Poland on September 17. 


(jh/ek)

Source: IAR