Polish Foreign Ministry Summons US Ambassador Over Documentary About Pope John Paul II

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th March, 2023) The Polish Foreign Ministry said on Thursday it had summoned US Ambassador to Warsaw Mark Brzezinski in connection with a new revealing tv film about Pope John Paul II and cases of pedophilia among Catholic priests.

In recent days, US-owned TVN24 broadcaster aired in Poland a documentary claiming that Pope John Paul II, who headed the Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005, had been aware of cases of pedophilia among priests under his authority.

"In response to the activity of one of TV stations, an investor on the Polish market, MFA has invited the Ambassador of the United States," the Polish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Warsaw also expressed belief that "the potential outcome of these activities (by the TV station) is in line with the goals of a hybrid war aimed at causing divisions and tensions within Polish society.

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"Therefore, the MFA has invited the US Ambassador to inform him about the situation and its consequences in the form of reducing Poland's capacity to deter a potential enemy and diminishing its resilience to threats," the ministry added.

The issue of sexual abuse of minors in the Roman Catholic Church has become a matter of serious concern to incumbent Pope Francis, since more and more such cases have been exposed. In June 2016, the Pope simplified the procedure for the resignation of bishops for ignoring cases of pedophilia. In August 2018, he published a special letter to the People of God in which he urged clergy to repent, and in March 2019, he signed three fundamental legal documents aimed at countering pedophilia.