The power of the powerless

Name: The power of the powerless
Author: Ks. Rafał Skitek

Professor Cesare Zucconi talks about the fascination with Father Jerzy Popiełuszko, an unprecedented trial in communist Poland, and the necessity of overcoming fear.

Professor Cesare Giacomo Zucconi is a historian and political scientist. He was born in London in 1962. He studied political science and the history of international relations at “La Sapienza” University in Rome. He is now a lecturer at “Friedrich Schiller” University in Jena, Germany. Zucconi is the author of books and articles on the history of Central and Eastern Europe, church history, conflict resolution and interfaith dialogue. He is a member of the Sant’Egidio Community.
Cesare G. Zucconi archive

Fr. Rafał Skitek: You are the author of the book (published in Italian) “Jerzy Popiełuszko 1947–1984: The Martyrdom of a Priest in Communist Poland.” Where does your interest in the Polish martyr come from?

Cesare Zucconi: I was a boy when the Italian newspapers wrote about him. I remember it very well. His story moved me deeply. The murder of Father Jerzy in October 1984 caused great outrage across the entire political spectrum. Over time, as often happens, this story faded into obscurity. But during his beatification in 2010, the topic resurfaced. Earlier, in 2008, I’d been in Warsaw. I’d visited the Church of St. Stanislaus Kostka in Żoliborz, Father Jerzy’s parish, and was deeply shaken by the sight of his grave next to the church, as well as the photos in the small museum there: pictures of the young priest among youth with a guitar, and those showing his body, brutalised by his executioners. The sheer savagery inflicted on a defenceless man was shocking. I thought that telling this story was important, especially since he isn’t very well known in Italy. And this priest has much to say to us. As Václav Havel put it, there is power in the powerless. My book was published in Italy and Germany. I would be happy if it were translated into Polish as well. Perhaps it would contribute to viewing those events from a different perspective than previous publications have offered.

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