According to the portal niedziela.pl, the Tatra National Park (TPN) rangers fined two individuals 500 PLN each for illuminating the cross on Giewont on the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s death. To do this, the two men carried battery-powered lamps to the summit.
The tradition of lighting up the cross in tribute to the Polish Pope began in 2005, on the day of John Paul II’s funeral. However, the Tatra National Park authorities have stated that the act was illegal, as park regulations prohibit being on the trails after dark between March 1st and November 30th.
The two individuals who reached the summit after sunset were fined 500 PLN each.
“They were penalized for being on the trail after dark, which violates park regulations. At the top of Giewont, they illuminated the cross using battery-powered lamps. They were stopped in the Giewont massif area. Others who were heading toward the summit before nightfall were informed that they needed to turn back. Many of them did, but these two ignored the warning and were fined,” said the TPN ranger chief.
The Tatra Mountains held a special place in John Paul II’s heart. As Karol Wojtyła, he frequently hiked the mountain trails and visited places like the Chochołowska Valley, Morskie Oko, and Kalatówki. In 1983, during an official visit to Poland, the Pope visited the Tatra region.