Alternative Historical Narrative : “Polish Bishops’ Appeal to Their German Colleagues” of 18 November 1965
: “Polish Bishops’ Appeal to Their German Colleagues” of 18 November 1965
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Media type:
E-Article
Title:
Alternative Historical Narrative : “Polish Bishops’ Appeal to Their German Colleagues” of 18 November 1965
:
“Polish Bishops’ Appeal to Their German Colleagues” of 18 November 1965
Contributor:
Wigura, Karolina
imprint:
SAGE Publications, 2013
Published in:East European Politics and Societies: and Cultures
Description:
<jats:p> “Polish Bishops’ Appeal to Their German Colleagues” of 18 November 1965 was one of the fifty-six letters written by the Polish Episcopate to episcopates all over the world on the occasion of the end of the Second Vatican Council. However, this one had a special character. In all letters, the brother bishops were first informed about one thousand years of Christianity in Poland, then an outline of the millennium history was given, emphasizing, if possible, common history. The Letter to the German Episcopate had a special significance symbolized by the famous words contained in it: “we grant forgiveness and we ask for forgiveness.” Twenty years after the end of the Second World War, in a communist Poland, where being anti-German (more precisely being anti-Western Germany) was an inherent feature of the official propaganda of the state, the Polish bishops undertook to write an alternative history of relations with the western neighbour. </jats:p><jats:p> The article examines the Appeal, presenting the background of creating the document, recalling its text and interpreting the text, using keys derived from contemporary philosophy of forgiveness, such as for example Paul Ricoeur’s and Józef Tischner’s, as well as historical documents such as letters written by the authors of the Appeal. Thanks to the alternative history described by the letter, the Appeal has served for years not only as the first step on the way to German–Polish reconciliation but also as the first political declaration using the word “forgiveness” after the Second World War. </jats:p>