President Karol Nawrocki in the United States. A special meeting with the Polish diaspora

President Karol Nawrocki met with members of the Polish diaspora in Silver Spring, Maryland. It was an exceptionally warm and friendly meeting, as can be seen in the photographs from the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland.

President Karol Nawrocki arrived in the United States on Saturday evening local time. On Sunday, he attended Mass in Silver Spring, Maryland, and met with the Polish community.

The parish was established thanks to the personal initiative of John Paul II, then Archbishop of Kraków, who in 1976, during his stay in Washington, sought to create a Polish Catholic Mission. The Mission was granted its seat in the historic Church of St. John the Evangelist in Silver Spring. Since its founding, pastoral care in the Mission and Parish has been provided by priests of the Society of Christ. This religious order was founded in 1932 by August Hlond, Primate of Poland, to provide pastoral care to the Polish diaspora scattered around the world.

Before entering the church, the president noted that he had come to the United States for the 80th birthday of President Donald Trump, “so I think everyone understands that good manners require me” to first extend birthday wishes to the president, as well as congratulations on the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. “But each of our meetings, and there have already been many, including phone conversations, is for me a time to discuss Poland’s interests,” said President Nawrocki.

See the photo gallery from President Nawrocki’s visit to Silver Spring. The photographs were taken by Mikołaj Bujak from the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland.