On June 22, 2023, the martyred missionary friars Blessed Zbigniew STRZAŁKOWSKI and Blessed Michał TOMASZEK, both Conventual Franciscans from Poland, were posthumously awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. The award ceremony was held at the Friary of the Twelve Holy Apostles in Rome, the seat of the Conventual Franciscan General Curia.
This honor, awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej DUDA, at the request of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, was posthumously conferred upon the two Conventual Franciscans from Poland “for outstanding merit in their long-standing missionary and charitable activities and for promoting education among children and youth in Peru.”
Those attending this commemorative event included the brothers and sisters of the martyrs as well as Sister Berta HERNANDEZ GUERRA from Peru, who witnessed the friars being kidnapped by terrorists and taken to the place of execution. Others attending included representatives of the parish in Pariacoto Peru, various Ministers Provincial, Custodes and Delegates who were in Rome to participate in the second round of the Order’s fraternal “Midway Meeting,” and a number of diplomats and officials from Poland. Also present was Ms. Magdalena ŚNIADECKA-KOTARSKA, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Peru; and Mr. Jorge LAZO Minister Counselor and Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Peru in Italy.
The Minister General, Friar Carlos TROVARELLI, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Holy See, Mr. Adam KWIATKOWSKI, welcomed the guests. The Secretary of State of the Presidential Chancellery, Mr. Wojciech KOLARSKI, read a letter from President Andrzej DUDA. “We firmly believe that recognizing the special merit of the cooperation between the two peoples of Peru and Poland will contribute to greater veneration of the Blessed Martyrs of Pariacoto and that through their intercession, world peace will be achieved and wars will cease. It is a great honor, and at the same time, a great duty for us to be like our brothers, to be witnesses of hope,” said Maria KOZIEŁ, sister of Blessed Michał, speaking on behalf of the siblings of the two martyrs.
The ceremony concluded with the inauguration of an exhibition set up by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and dedicated to the Martyrs of Pariacoto. The exhibition was presented by Sławomir KOWALSKI from the Department of Cooperation with the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad.
The guests then attended Mass presided over by His Eminence, Cardinal Mauro GAMBETTI , OFM Conv., Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican.
Friar Jan M. SZEWEK / Editorial staff
