Poland’s decision to shut down the John Paul II Museum in Toruń has caused international backlash, with Italian media condemning the move as an attack on religious heritage and historical memory.
Italian Press Reacts to Closure of “Memory and Identity” Museum
The Polish government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, has initiated the closure of the “Memory and Identity” Museum in Toruń, a project dedicated to preserving the legacy of Pope John Paul II. The decision has sparked controversy not only in Poland but also internationally, with Italian media expressing strong disapproval. The right-wing Italian newspaper La Verità published an article by Fabrizio Cannone titled “Polish Tusk Dismantles Wojtyła: ‘No to John Paul II Museum.'” (polacco Tusk cancella Wojtyla: No al museo Giovanni Paolo II) The piece, referencing a prior publication by Włodzimierz Rędzioch in Bussola Quotidiana, criticizes the Polish government’s stance, accusing it of promoting secularization and erasing historical memory. Italians, who hold John Paul II in deep regard regardless of their personal faith, find it particularly shocking that the attack on his legacy is coming from the Polish leadership itself.
“Tusk’s policy is not solely focused on his own supposedly glorious roots but rather on striving to emulate France. It appears that he seeks to restore—through a highly controversial approach—a certain model of the lack of secularization from the second half of the 20th century. In this context, last year saw an “attempt to remove crosses from public buildings,” and now there is a push to “eliminate religious education from schools.” Not to mention the hypocritical and top-down imposed “progress” on issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and same-sex marriage.”
writes Fabrizio Cannone
Political and Financial Disputes Surrounding the Museum’s Closure
The museum, inspired by John Paul II’s book Memory and Identity, was established through a 2018 agreement between Poland’s Ministry of Culture, then headed by Piotr Gliński, and the Lux Veritatis Foundation, led by Father Tadeusz Rydzyk. The Polish government contributed 180 million PLN, while the foundation provided 90 million PLN to construct the modern facility. However, following a shift in power, the new Minister of Culture, Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, halted further funding and moved to terminate the agreement. Critics argue that this decision is not just about financial priorities but a broader attempt to diminish religious influence in Poland. The move has sparked protests beyond conservative circles, with growing concerns over the waste of significant public funds and the potential erasure of Poland’s cultural and religious heritage.