Remembering Auschwitz martyr Maksymilian Kolbe
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
14.08.2016 13:20
Commemorations marking the 75th anniversary of the death of Maksymilian Kolbe were held on Sunday at the former Nazi German Auschwitz death camp.
Polish PM Beata Szydło during the commemoration ceremony on Sunday. Photo: PAP/Stanisław Rozpędzik
A mass marking the anniversary was attended by Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło, and said by Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz.
Bishop Roman Pindel prayed at the death block in Auschwitz, where Father Kolbe died. “Thank God for the life and martyrdom of Maksymilian [Kolbe], a faithful follower of the crucified and risen Christ,” Pindel said.
The bishop recalled the recent pilgrimage of Pope Francis, who visited the site during a tour of the former death camp during World Youth Day.
“Instead of words and speeches, the pope chose silence instead of action – a prayer that is meaningful,” the bishop said.
During the selection of prisoners to be starved to death as a reprisal for the escape of an inmate, Father Kolbe volunteered to die for another man, who cried out for his wife and two children at home.
Father Kolbe was left to starve to death and a prison guard finally killed him with an injection of carbolic acid.
He was canonised by Pope John Paul II in October 1982. (rg)