The Roman Catholic Church and Forced Displacement in Poland

Abstract

Abstract In 1926-1938, the number of emigrants returning to Poland was 870,300 people, while repatriates amounted to 1,181,100 people. The period after World War II was characterised by mass population displacements resulting from repatriation, re-emigration and relocation. According to the data of the State Repatriation Office, repatriation and re-emigration to Poland in 1944-1949 amounted to 3.8 million people. Before 1989, the flow of migrants to Poland remained at a very low level. The Polish transformation of the late 1980s and early 1990s and the associated lifting of restrictions on the movement of people resulted in the arrival of the first groups of foreigners. The opening of the borders encouraged an influx of migrants from beyond the country’s eastern border. Also, the first refugees appeared in Poland at that time. In Poland the category of people defined as refugees is relatively small. In relation to refugees, Pope Francis follows the path set by his predecessors. Pope Francis’ standpoint on immigrants and refugees is not shared by all members of the Catholic and Christian community, including some Polish bishops and priests.