President Duda meets with Poland's religious leaders
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
15.01.2016 11:00
President of Poland Andrzej Duda has met with religious leaders of the country's various faiths.
President Andrzej Duda (R) with First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda (2R), Primate of Poland Archbishop Wojciech Polak (L) Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich (2L). PAP/Radek Pietruszka
“Mutual respect and understanding are the foundations of a community,” the president told his guests at the Presidential Palace on Thursday in a celebratory meeting marking the New Year.
Besides Roman Catholic figureheads including Primate of Poland Archbishop Wojciech Polak, the meeting was attended by Poland's chief rabbi Michael Schudrich, Mufti Tomasz Miśkiewicz, Archbishop Eugeniusz Popowicz, leader of the Greek Catholic Church in Poland, and Archbishop Jeremiasz Anchimiuk, head of the Orthodox Church in Poland.
“The co-existence of different faiths, all believing in one God, is a centuries-old Polish tradition,” President Duda said.
“Walking through military cemeteries, it can be seen that many denominations fought for Poland under the motto of 'God, honour, and homeland',” the president added.
The Pueri Claromontani Choir under the direction of Jarosław Jasiura performed pieces by G.D. da Palestrina and Wojciech Kilar.
According to a national survey carried out by the Central Statistics Office (GUS) in 2011, 87.5 percent of Poles identify as Roman Catholic. (ua/nh)