On October 25, 2023, Poland bid farewell to Professor Wanda Półtawska, a renowned physician, social activist, and Ravensbrück concentration camp survivor, just days before her 102nd birthday. Her extraordinary life, shaped by resilience, courage, and faith, left a lasting impact on the nation. President Andrzej Duda hailed her as an “unforgettable personality,” reflecting the profound influence she had on Poland’s history and the defence of human dignity.
From Wartime Survivor to Influential Catholic Leader: The Journey of Wanda Półtawska
Born in Lublin in 1921, Półtawska’s life was marked early on by Poland’s turbulent history. As a young scout during World War II, she engaged in underground educational activities that resisted the Nazi occupation, which led to her arrest and deportation to Ravensbrück. There, she endured brutal conditions and survived pseudo-medical experiments, experiences that deepened her lifelong commitment to the sanctity of life.
Her harrowing past forged a path toward a distinguished career in psychiatry and a decades-long collaboration with Karol Wojtyła, later Pope John Paul II. Together, they advanced Catholic social doctrine, emphasizing the value of life and the family. Her influence extended to the Pontifical Council for the Family and the Pontifical Academy for Life, where she addressed ethical challenges in modern medicine with unwavering conviction.
A Steadfast Defender of Faith, Family, and Human Dignity
A prominent advocate for family values, Półtawska’s staunch defence of the Church’s teachings on life often placed her at odds with progressive views. Nonetheless, she remained steadfast, grounded in her Catholic faith and a belief in the intrinsic worth of every person. In 2016, she received the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest honour, recognizing her contributions to the nation and her Christian testimony.
Professor Półtawska’s legacy endures through her writings, activism, and the memories she preserved of wartime suffering. Her memoir, And I Am Afraid of My Dreams, offers a poignant account of survival and resilience, reminding future generations of the enduring struggle for human dignity and the power of faith in adversity.