What happened?
On Saturday, Karol Nawrocki, the candidate supported by Law and Justice in the upcoming presidential elections, met with participants of the 17th Patriotic Pilgrimage of Fans at Jasna Góra. The event, which was supposed to be an opportunity for joint prayer and conversation with Poles, unexpectedly took a controversial turn.
During the meeting in Father Kordecki's hall, right after the service, when Karol Nawrocki entered the lectern, some of the gathered people began to chant nationalist slogans, including: “Once with a sickle, once with a hammer, red rabble”. The situation took place in a church, which caused a wave of criticism on social media. Surprisingly, Nawrocki did not address the shouts, which further intensified the outrage.
The behavior of the participants and the candidate's lack of reaction aroused numerous comments among internet users, clergy, and politicians.
O. Grzegorz Kramer, a Jesuit, commented on platform X: „Prayer cannot end with shouts against others. Otherwise, it is not prayer”. In another entry he added: „Once again, when I think about Jasna Góra, I feel sad. Are there really no more appropriate places for meetings of shouting fans with politicians?”.
Jarosław Makowski, deputy mayor of Katowice from PO, stated: “Everything here is a negation of the world that adheres to fundamental values: the Church, which is for everyone; Christianity, which proclaims respect for everyone; politics, which stops at the doors of the temple.”
Another controversial moment also occurred during the meeting, when an 11-year-old participant asked Karol Nawrocki the question: “If you become president, will you not allow leftist ideology to be introduced in schools??” The candidate replied: “Yes, Xavier, I will never let that happen”.
Krzysztof Stanowski, a well-known journalist, reacted to the situation: “I would be very concerned if my 11-year-old son asked me that question. I would be concerned about myself first”.
The participation of politicians in the events at Jasna Góra has been controversial for years, but Karol Nawrocki's presence at the fans' pilgrimage and the course of the meeting were particularly problematic for many observers. Critics point to the mixing of religion with politics and the lack of reaction to inappropriate behavior in a holy place.
Will such events affect the candidate's image and chances in the upcoming elections? It is certain that the topic will be hotly commented on in the coming days.
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