The President of the Republic of Poland announced the national mourning on Saturday, on the day of the funeral of Pope Francis. However, the capital theaters do not cancel the performances. In some viewers, they celebrate the deceased Pope with a minute of silence. As the media expert dr Jacek Dziekan told PAP, there are different faces of national mourning.
After the death of Pope John Paul II or after the Smolensk disaster, a multi -day mourning was announced in Poland. Most often, however, one -day mourning was announced in history, as Dr. Jacek Dziekan, a lecturer at the Institute of Media Education and Journalism of the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, reminded in an interview with PAP.
“All cultural and sports events of mass nature, including concerts, performances, picnics, may, but do not have to be suspended during mourning,” explained the media expert.
He pointed out that in Polish culture and social life there is a custom to focus on its experience, not on entertainment during mourning.
“However, there are no clear rules that would precisely define what events can take place and which should not take place” – he concluded.
On Monday, the head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister Jan Grabiec confirmed that the President's office informed the government about the intention to announce national mourning. “The president makes a decision in this matter, countersignates are granted by the prime minister. We have seen no reason to question this decision in any way. Mourning became a fact” – he explained. He added that on Saturday, April 26, on the day of the funeral of Pope Francis, state flags before state offices would be lowered.
“As for other forms of cultural or sports activity, there are no strict legal prohibitions. It is a matter of sensitivity, sense of individual organizers,” he explained. “There is no obstacle formally, cultural events can take place,” he added.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk granted a countersignate to the decision of President Andrzej Duda about the announcement of Saturday's national mourning in connection with the funeral of Pope Francis.
From Saturday, April 26 to Sunday, the Millennium of the Polish Crown was postponed-a nationwide, outdoor event on the occasion of the 1000th anniversary of the coronation of Bolesław the Brave as King of Poland. The program includes historical reconstructions and parade. The highlight will be a concert in Błonia PGE Narodowy, where the stars of Polish music will perform on one stage: Kayah, Organk, Król, Bovska, Vix.n, Grzegorz Hyży, Margaret, Zalia, Oskar Cyms, Stanisław Soyka and many others.
Also the Grand Theater – the National Opera in Warsaw decided to cancel the Saturday performance. “In connection with the national mourning announced by the President of the Republic of Poland, scheduled for April 26, 2025, which is an expression of tribute on the day of the funeral of Pope Francis, we would like to inform you that the premiere of the voivode's prime minister planned for this day. The concert version + is postponed. We will notify the new date soon” – theater informed.
Whereas the theater director and director of the Universal Theater Zygmunt Hübner in Warsaw Paweł Łysak told PAP that the performance of the heart +method for the heart planned on Saturday. The investigation+ directed by Katarzyna Szyngiera will take place. “This is not an entertainment spectacle, but a serious and reflective performance. We will not conduct any entertainment activity on that day” – added Łysak.
Edyta Bach from the Marketing and Communication Department of the Polonia and Och-Teatr in the Warsaw Theater informed PAP that they did not introduce any changes in the repertoire.
In a statement published by the Directorate of the Musical Theater “Roma” in Warsaw, it was stated that the performances of “Wicked” and “Bajo -Bongo – the History of Natasza Zylska” planned for Saturday will take place as planned. “Each of the performances will be preceded by a request to commemorate Pope Francis with a minute of silence. Thank you for understanding,” we read.
The possibility of introducing national mourning is regulated by the “Act of 31 January 1980 on the emblem, colors and hymn of the Republic of Poland and about state seals”.
“The President of the Republic of Poland may, by way of a regulation, introduce national mourning in the territory of the Republic of Poland. The ordinance should in particular determine the reasons for the introduction and the duration of national mourning, taking into account cultural and historical conditions and customs adopted in this respect. During the national mourning, the state flag is left to half of the mast” – informs Article 11 of the Act.
Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) died on April 21, 2025. In connection with his death, Spain introduced a three -day national mourning, while Argentina, from which the Pope – Seven -day came from. In the Holy See, the mourning will last nine days.
The state authorities announce national mourning in the event of the death of an outstanding personality, e.g. Pope John Paul II, tragic events in the country or outside of it, about Polish citizens, such as the Air disaster near Smolensk (2010), a railway disaster in Szczekociny (2012) and in the case of catastrophes and attacks outside Poland. Then the national mourning aims to express solidarity, such as paying tribute to victims of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (2001) or an attack in Madrid (2004). (PAP)
Mr/ Miś/ MHR/
