03/06/2019, Gdańsk, Poland - historical "Sala BHP". Scientific conference "He awakened Solidarity in us"

Celebrations related to the 40th anniversary of John Paul II's first pilgrimage to his homeland were held in the "Sala BHP" (Health and safety hall) of the Gdańsk Shipyard. A part of the program was the scientific conference "He awakened solidarity in us - the 40th anniversary of the first pilgrimage of John Paul II to the homeland" organized by the National Commission of NSZZ "Solidarity" and the International Center for Research of Phenomenon of Solidarność. Representatives of the highest state authorities, headed by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, were present. A letter sent by President Andrzej Duda was read out. The conference was held in Polish.

In the first part at At 10.00 a ceremony of awarding the title of the Man of the Year 2018 by Tygodnik Solidarność to the pastor of the Basilica of Saint Bridget in Gdańsk, Fr. prelate Ludwik Kowalski. This title has been awarded since 1997 and it is, next to the Wprost weekly, the oldest Polish title of the man of the year. After the ceremony, a letter from the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, was read out by the minister from the President's office, Mr. Paweł Mucha. He was followed by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and the Metropolitan of Gdańsk, Fr. Archbishop Sławoj Leszek Głódź.

After the ceremonial part, a scientific conference was held under the slogan “He awakened Soliarity in us. 40. Anniversary of John Paul II's first pilgrimage to his homeland. There were four speakers:

Prof. Rocco Buttiglione: The importance of the founding of NSZZ "Solidarity" for Europe

Fr. prof.  Władysław Zuziak: The role of John Paul II in maturing to Solidarity

Fr. prof. Jarosław Jagiełło: "Never one against the other, one against the other." John Paul II concept of Solidarity

Prof.Jakub Stelina: Around human work.Laborem exercens encyclical

In the fourth and last part of the event, prof. Rocco Buttiglione together with the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Culture and National Heritage prof. Piotr Gliński, they opened an outdoor exhibition by Joanna Lewandowska from the Archives of the National Commission of NSZZ "Solidarność" under the title "Holy Father with Solidarność - Solidarność with the Holy Father". The exhibition was co-financed by the Multiannual "Niepodległa" Program for 2017-2022.