Polish Action Disturbs Pope

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30955, 11 January 1966, Page 12

Polish Action Disturbs Pope

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) VATICAN CITY, January 10. Pope Paul was reported “deeply upset” today over the Polish Government’s refusal to allow Cardinal Wyszynski to leave Warsaw.

The Pope had hoped to> visit Warsaw this year. Vatican sources said the Pope’s planned journey be- i hind the Iron Curtain —the) first visit any Pope would j have made to a Communist; nation—is now almost cer-| tainly off. Cardinal Wyszynski’s re-; quest for a visa to visit Rome this week to attend papal: celebrations marking 1000 i years of Christianity in Poland was turned down, thePolish Government saying ■ that he used his last trip! abroad for “political activi-! ties damaging from the point of view of the interests of: the Polish People’s Repub-! lie.” Relations Affected The move plunged Vatican relations with the Communist world to a new low at a time w’hen the Pope was optimistic that they could be improved. The Pope had hoped to

visit Poland about May 23 for the one thousandth anniversary observances. Some close papal aides had already been against such a pilgrimage. They felt that going to a Communist nation, even for a religious event, would have amounted to de facto recognition of the Government Although fluctuating, the Vatican’s relations with Poland have been improving since Prime Minister Wladyslaw Gomulka took over in 1956. There has even been talk about setting up diplomatic relations between Warsaw and the Vatican which would mean breaking current diplomatic relations with the Polish Government in exile.