WCC offers condolences to Poles
The WCC has sent a series of condolence letters to the Polish government, ecumenical and church leaders after the tragic plane crash on 10 April in which the President of Poland, Lech Kaczynski along with his wife Maria and high ranking representatives of the Polish state, churches and civil society died.
All 96 passengers were killed when the presidential plane crashed in dense fog as it attempted to land at Smolensk airbase in western Russia. They were travelling to a commemoration of the 1940 Katyn massacre of thousands of Poles – including army officers and members of the intelligentsia – by Soviet troops.
Among the dead were also leading clergy members in charge of chaplaincy in the Polish army: Bishop General of Division Tadeusz Płoski from the Roman Catholic Church, Archbishop General of Brigade Dr Miron Chodakowski from the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church, and Pastor Colonel Adam Pilch from the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland.
In the letters, the WCC assures the Polish churches and state “that our fellowship of churches will mourn with you during these sad days, together with the people of Poland, and will pray for the healing of this deep loss for Poland and the entire world.”
Read the full text of the condolence lettersWCC member churches in PolandRead also a featured article by Ecumenical News International