“Only The Pope can give me instructions”.
Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz about Lukashenko’s accusations.
Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, Minsk and Mogilev’s metropolitan, told “Current Time TV” why he went to Poland, if he has second citizenship and who he gets instructions from.
Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz was not allowed to cross Belarusian borders on August 31, when he was on his way from Poland, despite his Belarusian citizenship. The incident was commented on neither by the State Border Committee nor by the KGB.
A day later, Lukashenko commented on the situation. He declared that the catholic church leader unexpectedly went to Warsaw for a number of consultations, and after he received specific tasks, he was going back to Belarus. It’s when he was included in the list of people banned from entering both Belarus and Russia. Lukashenko also said that there is information that Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz might have several citizenships.
“We are looking into it. I do not claim it. We want to study the issue. If everything is clear and according to the law, we will act by law. It does not matter who he is, the leader of the Catholics, Orthodox or Muslims. One must live by the law. But if you get involved in politics and then drag into it your congregation, the Catholics, who are lovely people, then you are under dual liability”, — said Lukashenko.
In an interview with “Current Time TV,” Kondrusiewicz said that he traveled to Poland to participate in church services and did not visit Warsaw.
“I was close to Bialystok, and then I went to have a communion towards Warsaw, but not to the city itself. I do not understand what instructions they must give me, only the Pope and the nuncio. But anyone else, especially from another country? The Church is apart from the government!
Of course, we serve the government. I serve Belarus. But in all my pleas, I was asking people not to have violence, not to have revenge, but to have forgiveness. It is such nonsense, I cannot understand where it comes from.
“Lukashenko also claims that you reportedly have double citizenship, could you comment on this?”
“How can I make it clear? I have a Belarusian passport, and I showed it”
“Are you upset about this situation?”
“Of course, I am. I have to attend to my duties as a pastor in Belarus, and now I cannot do it. Surely, I could write a message and send it via email. But it is not the same at all as to be at the place in person.
For another thing, I have two big services scheduled for next Sunday, and I do not know if the problem with my entering the country will have been solved by that time. Of course, this situation causes concern among people. It was announced that the bishop would be there, but he is not present, then the speculations start. It does not serve the consolidation of society, especially during the time we live in, when you have to make every effort to find a peaceful solution for our society’s problems.
“Does the Vatican know about this situation?”
“I informed the nuncio, and I do not know who he reported to later.”
Kondrusievich calls everything that happened to him a “misunderstanding which will be resolved in a matter of time.”
What concerns the beatings and violent arrests, according to Kondrusievich, one has to forgive them, though it is hard to do.
“Look at Holy Cross, Christ is dying, but what does he tell us? He says, “Father, forgive them.” He asks for them to be forgiven, and we should follow his example. It is difficult, and I like the words of Pope John Paull II, who was calling for forgiveness in 2000 and said that forgiveness is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of force. When we forgive, we overcome all the malice we have inside us. All of us are sinful people, and all of us need forgiveness from our fellowmen and God. It is not easy, but it is possible.
I believe that the catholic church and other churches should strive to lead people to forgiveness. It is hard to be without forgiveness. Of course, there should be justice, but this is a problem of the court and other institutions. Our business is to call for forgiveness and dialogue.
