Crystal Palace
Meeting the Polish community
7.30am, Sunday, 30 May 1982

Despite the early morning start, some 24,000 of John Paul II’s countrymen and women turned out at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre to meet their beloved Pope.

In his address, the Holy Father said:

“Polish culture bears very clear marks of Christianity, and it is not by chance that 'Bogurodzica' (hymn to the Mother of God, our oldest historical monument) gives evidence to this culture.”

“It is precisely to these Christian roots that we must always return and grow anew from them in every age. For such is truth about man. He always has to discover it anew.”

“The emigration will fulfil its mission the more effectively the higher their ethical level is, the more that Christ is the centre of its life and activity, the more it believes that he alone is 'the way, the truth and the life'” (Jn 14:6).

Mgr Patrick Keaveny selected the venue for the Pope’s meeting with the Polish community.

He describes the greeting the Pope received from his countrymen and women:

“Oh they were absolutely over the moon, they were so proud of him – it really was a highly successful event.”

“It was beautiful, early morning and some of these old Polish people – it was quite impressive – walking along to that entrance to Crystal Palace. Old people struggling – it was an extraordinary expression of faith.”

Click here to listen to Mgr Patrick’s account of the Pope’s meeting with the Polish community

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