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When Pope Benedict XVI travels to Poland at the end of May he will be returning to a country he first visited in 1979. Here is a summary of his past visits. Although these are mostly fleeting glimpses of his time in various places, his visits to Poland over more than ten years, have given him an increasingly familiarity with the homeland of Papa Wojtyla. Now he is more comfortable speaking Polish, coached by Ingrid Stampa, who is fluent in the language.
Compiled from a framework by K. Tomasik and other archive sources.

1979

Cardinal Ratzinger first visited Poland in 1979. In a later interview with Jasna Gra Radio Cardinal Ratzinger recalled:

I first came to Poland with John Paul II in 1979. This was an unforgettable visit to his homeland, and at the same time an excellent experience, since I felt the enthusiasm of faith, the power of resistance to atheism, the strength of the Catholic faith. One could also feel the presence of anti-Christian dictatorship and ideology"

During that trip Joseph Ratzinger accompanied the Pope on his visit to Auschwitz on 7 June, 1979. He said then:

I came especially to participate in this event because I think that we Germans have special reasons to do it. It should be a source of reconciliation and a warning that nothing of this kind can ever be repeated.

1980

As Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Joseph Ratzinger was a member of the official delegation of the German Bishops Conference, which visited Poland between 11-15 September at the invitation of the Polish bishops. At that time the German bishops visited Jasna Gra, Trzebnica, Wroclaw, Opole, Katowice, Owicim, and Kracow. This was a return visit, since in September 1978 a group of Polish ecclesiastical leaders with Cardinals Stefan Wyszyski and Karol Wojtyla went to Germany. One month later the Metropolitan of Cracow became Pope.

Czstochowa

On 11 September the delegation of German bishops arrived at Jasna Gra. Welcoming the guests, Cardinal Wyszyski told them to feel at home in Poland, especially in the presence of She who unites the redeemed children of Christ in Bethlehem, on the Way of the Cross, and at the Calvary of life of the family of people and nations".

On 12 September the German delegation, together with the Polish bishops, took part in the Mass celebrated at the altar before the Miraculous Image of Our Lady.

The Cardinal the went on to visit Trzebnica

Wroclaw


Celebrating Mass in Wroclaw

On 12 September in Wroclaw Cardinal Ratzinger saw the first documentary film about the life of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla entitled TOTUS TUUS. The movie was shot by Fr. Jerzy Rasiak, Director of the Audio-Visual Centre of the Wroclaw Archdiocese.

Owicim



In Owicim, also on 13 September 1980, Cardinal Ratzinger, and the German delegation, visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum. It was his second visit to Auschwitz.



The delegation was accompanied by Cardinal Franciszek Macharski. One of the most significant and touching moments of this visit was the prayer in the death cell of St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe. The German bishops prayed there with the following words: Almighty God, the place we are standing in brings to memory the ruthless and severe power of lawlessness committed by the Germans. Gathered in prayer at the place of his sacrifice, we all confess to jointly make an effort to overcome the enmity and hatred between nations".



Cardinal Ratzinger signed the Commemorative book.

Kracow

Preaching in St Marys Basilica in Krakw on the same day, he said: First of all, I wish to express my joy and thanks that here in this most venerable city of Krakw, a bishops seat, I may deliver a sermon. Following the dark page in the book of history of our Polish-German relations, this invitation is a particular symbol of the reconciling and healing power of faith which gives strength to forgive and builds brotherhood wherever the spirit of disbelief, hatred and hostility was sown. For this gift of forgiveness, peace and brotherhood flowing from faith I would like to be specially thankful.

Katowice

The Cardinal donated a mosaic to Katowice Cathedral. It can now be found in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. The artists Lidia Kwiatkowska from Mikołow and Teresa Madej from Piekary Slaskie laid nearly a million tiny stones covering an area of 80 square metres. John Paul II prayed before the mosaic during his second pilgrimage to Poland in 1983.

1981

On May 31 Cardinal Ratzinger represented the German Church at Cardinal Stephan Wyszynskis funeral. The Pope was lying in hospital in Rome recovering from the attempt on his life.

1983

Gora Swietej Anny

On 26 June cardinal Ratzinger presided over a pilgrimage of men and youths. It took place five days after the visit of Pope John Paul II. Archbishop Alfons Nossol recalls it like this:

When I was extending the invitation, I did not know that the second pilgrimage of John Paul II to Poland was to include Silesia. It so happened, then, that the pilgrimage was to take place only five days after the Popes visit. Ratzinger said then, You know what? It wouldnt work; no one will come right after the Popes visit". I responded to him: Do not fear, this is going to be a service of thanksgiving for the Popes pilgrimage". And we had over 200,000 men coming here! The Mass was celebrated in Latin, and the Cardinal delivered a magnificent sermon, recalls Archbishop Alfons Nossol.

Chorula



On 26 June Cardinal Ratzinger blessed the cornerstone for an auxiliary church in the Katy Opolskie parish the Holy Trinity Church in Chorula and he said Mass in Latin.

Krowiarki



Bishop Alfons Nossol invited Cardinal Ratzinger to the silver jubilee of the priesthood of his friend, Fr. Leonard Gaida, then a parish priest in the Krowiarki parish, Racibrz County.



When the Cardinal greeted every one of us, I said: Eminence, I saw your installation in Munich Cathedral on the Saturday before the Pentecost, on 28 May 1977". He smiled nostalgically and said: I remember this, too, schon war das!" recalls Fr. Hubert Mikolajec.

Brozec

The Cardinal visited Brozec, the home village of Archbishop Nossol. Then he went on to the seminary of Opole.

1988

Lublin


The University of Lublin

Joseph Ratzinger received an honorary doctorate from the Catholic University of Lublin on 23 October 1988.



This was the first title of this kind conferred on the Cardinal by a Polish university. The honorary doctor delivered a lecture entitled Man reproduction or creation?".



Kalwaria Zebrzydowska

The Cardinal visited the shrine in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska on 24 October. He was accompanied by Cardinal Franciszek Macharski.



The monastery chronicle notes that the monks awaited the Cardinal in the monastery courtyard. After his arrival, they went to the chapel of Our Lady of Kalwaria. After a prayer, Cardinal Ratzinger visited the basilica and ate a meal with them in the refectory.

Kracow

On 19 April cardinal Ratzinger went for a short, one-day trip to Kracow at the invitation of the Znak Publishing House. He delivered a lecture titled The unity of faith and the multiplicity of cultures. Reflections on the Fides et ratio encyclical". During the meeting with the Kracow intellectuals he stressed that The Church must follow the path of the Second Vatican Council". He pointed to the reform of the liturgy as the key achievement of the Council.

2000

Wroclaw


University of Wroclaw

On 27 October cardinal Ratzinger received his second honorary doctorate from a Polish university. The celebration took place in the hall of the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wroclaw. Presenting the honorary diploma, Fr. Prof. Ignacy Dec, President of the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wroclaw, made a reference to a well-known saying about St. Tomas Aquinas: St. Thomas was the greatest theologian among the saints and the greatest saint among the theologians, while Cardinal Ratzinger is the most outstanding theologian among the Cardinals and the most prominent Cardinal among theologians".



The President also said that it is hard to imagine the Church without the unique duo" and the collaboration that for years has been between John Paul II and Cardinal Ratzinger, who strengthen each other in perfect harmony in delineating the line of the Church. The honorary doctor delivered a lecture entitled Faith and theology".

Henrykow

On 28 October the Cardinal conferred gowns on the graduates of the first year of the Wroclaw Metropolitan Seminary.

Opole

Cardinal Ratzinger took part in the inauguration of the academic year at the University of Opole. The representatives of the university stressed the fact that thanks to the favourable opinion of the Cardinal, the Congregation for Catholic Education consented to the establishment of the Faculty of Theology in Opole.



In his address, Cardinal Ratzinger referred to the issues raised by the famous declaration Dominus Iesus. In memory of the meeting the Cardinal was presented with a replica of the 11th-century Gniezno lectionary.

Olesnica

On 29th October the Cardinal met with residents of Olesnica in the parish of Divine Mercy. Cardinal Ratzinger delivered a homily and blessed a figure of Christ the King.



2002

Radom



On 25 May Cardinal Ratzinger took part in the celebration of the Episcopal ordination of Fr. Zygmunt Zimowski. The new bishop had worked with Cardinal Ratzinger at the CDF since 1983. He and Cardinal Ratzinger first met at 1978 in Innsbruck, where the Cardinal was delivering a homily at a service celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Bishop of Innsbruck.



Bishop Zygmunt, you know how much we in Rome awaited this day. We were all convinced that this was the will of God to confer on you such a responsibility in the Church" said Cardinal Ratzinger during the celebration of the episcopal ordination.

Cardinal Ratzinger also visited the local seminary.

Czestochowa

With Bishop Zimowski the Cardinal visited the shrine of Jasna Gora. Cardinal Ratzinger presided over a Mass before the Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Jasna Gra. In his homily he said: Our feast and our celebration is nothing else but thanksgiving to God for the fact that He exists, for the fact that He loves us, for His love".





2003

Szczepanow



In 2003 Cardinal Ratzinger was in Szczepanow. The Cardinal arrived in Poland as the papal legate on the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the canonisation of St. Stanislaus. On May 10 he took part in the solemn Mass at the chapel where St. Stanislaus is said to have been born in Szczepanow.



In an interview with KAI he stressed that he saw a profound spiritual bond between the work of John Paul II and the Episcopal ministry of St. Stanislaus of Cracow in the 11th century. Cardinal Ratzinger presented the Shrine in Szczepanw with a gold chalice, a gift from John Paul II.



Kracow

On May 11th Cardinal Ratzinger was again in Kracow. During the liturgy Cardinal Ratzinger used the chalice donated to the Archdiocese of Kracow by John Paul II. After the blessing he said in Polish: Praised be Jesus Christ". He spoke a few sentences in German from his speech, which was later read out in its entirety in Polish by Cardinal Macharski. According to Cardinal Ratzinger, What St. Stanislaus was an exemplary of is now the experience also of Pope John Paul II. The Holy Father has become even more credible and beloved, because he does not spare himself and emanates with Gods joy. He is a great and credible messenger of Jesus Christ in our times", said Cardinal Ratzinger.

Now Joseph Ratzinger will return to Poland as the successor of the beloved Karol Wojtyla. Pope Benedict XVI is sure to receive a warm welcome in Papa Wojtyla's homeland.