Berlin cardinal: Germans must forgive Poles for postwar expulsions

September 02, 2009

Calling for mutual forgiveness and reconciliation, bishops from Germany and Poland gathered in Berlin’s cathedral to concelebrate a Mass marking the 70th anniversary of the beginning of World War II.

Cardinal Georg Sterzinsky of Berlin-- a Polish-born ethnic German who was three years old when the war began, and whose family was expelled from Poland after the war-- urged German Christians who resented their families’ postwar expulsion from Poland to recall that ethnic Poles also suffered expulsion from the Soviet Union after the victorious Allies shifted Poland’s boundaries westward.

“A part of German Christians are led by emotions and seeking legal justifications for them, which is why I repeat that we still haven't fulfilled the task of reconciliation,” he said. “If we aren’t able to forgive, even the whole Polish nation, we cannot go to confession, receive absolution or, in consequence, the sacrament of the Eucharist. Nor will God Himself forgive us.”

 

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Further information:

• German cardinal says Germans, Poles must recognize WWII grievances (CNS)
• Poland marks 70th anniversary of WWII (AP)
• Expulsion of Germans after World War II (Wikipedia)
• German, Polish bishops issue statement on World War II (CWN, Aug 27)