On Monday, 18 May 2026, marking the 106th anniversary of the birth of Karol Wojtyła and the 82nd anniversary of the capture of Monte Cassino by Polish soldiers under General Władysław Anders, President Karol Nawrocki paid a special tribute to the Polish House of Saint John Paul II at Via Cassia 1200 in Rome, run by our Foundation. It has become yet another institution to receive a Polish flag that previously flew over the Presidential Palace in Warsaw.
On 1 January 2026, President Nawrocki inaugurated a new tradition: the white‑and‑red national flags that have flown over the Palace are ceremonially handed over to local communities, educational institutions, state bodies, and Polish diaspora organisations. Since the introduction of this custom—specifically from 3 January 2026—the flag‑changing ceremony at the Presidential Palace has taken place every Saturday. The flags removed from the mast are an important symbol of the continuity of state authority and national identity, and the Chancellery of the President of Poland presents them as a sign of recognition and respect for various local communities.
The flag presented to our Pilgrim House flew over the Presidential Palace in Warsaw from 9 to 16 May 2026, thus including 13 May—the anniversary of the assassination attempt on the Polish Pope, and at the same time the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, who miraculously preserved his life.
This exceptional gift from President Nawrocki was received at the Polish War Cemetery at Monte Cassino, on behalf of the Polish House of Saint John Paul II, by its director, Fr. Mateusz Wójcik, who has been leading this important Polish diaspora institution in the Eternal City for the past three years.
