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Mass for Polish spying row cleric Polish archbishop quits amid row
(1 day later)
One of Poland's most senior Church leaders, at the centre of communist-era spying revelations, is due to be installed as Archbishop of Warsaw. The controversial Archbishop of Warsaw has resigned, less than an hour before he was due to be installed in his post.
The special Mass service, to be attended by Poland's president, follows Stanislaw Wielgus admission that he collaborated with the secret police. Stanislaw Wielgus has been at the centre of a communist-era spying row, and recently admitted collaborating with the secret police.
The archbishop's appointment has been described as the most serious crisis in the Polish Church in recent times. He announced the decision in person at a special Mass for his installation, to a mixture of applause and shouting.
The decision has divided opinion in the staunchly Catholic country. The Vatican's mission in Poland said in a statement that Pope Benedict XVI had accepted the archbishop's resignation.
In one survey, two-thirds of people asked said Archbishop Wielgus should resign. The Pope has asked Cardinal Jozef Glemp, Archbishop Wielgus' predecessor, to return to his post temporarily "until further decisions have been taken concerning the archdiocese", the brief statement added.
The BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says the 67-year-old archbishop will take his place on the throne of Warsaw Cathedral during a two-hour ceremony full of pomp and splendour. The BBC's David Willey in Rome says the archbishop was under tremendous pressure to resign, but the decision to step down minutes before his lavish inauguration is unprecedented.
The capital's auxiliary bishops and priests will pay homage to a man who, in a statement read out in churches across the country, admitted that he had not been truthful about his past. Poland's president was expected to attend the event, which has now been turned into a service in honour of Cardinal Glemp.
Shocking
Archbishop Wielgus was consecrated in a closed-door ceremony on Friday.
In pictures: Archbishop quits Profile: Stanislaw Wielgus
But he publicly admitted his collaboration, and a statement acknowledging he had not been truthful about the matter in the past was read out in churches throughout Poland on Saturday.
He announced his resignation on Sunday morning, following urgent talks between Polish and Vatican officials overnight.
Announcing his decision at the service with tears in his eyes, the archbishop said he had reached the decision after much reflection.
There was an immediate reaction from the congregation with applause, cheers and shouting.
People who had expected to see him inaugurated reacted by saying: "No, you can't do this."
The BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says that in a country where the Catholic Church plays such an important role, this scandal could hardly have been more shocking.
The Polish Church has launched a series of investigations in recent years to identify collaborators.
Krakow Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, who heads an investigation in his home diocese, said the communist era had been "a time of persecution of the Church, often bloody and brutal".
'No informing'
The decision to appoint Archbishop Wielgus divided opinion in the staunchly Catholic country.
In one survey, two-thirds of people asked, said Archbishop Wielgus should resign.
His admission came after a Church commission acknowledged he had collaborated with the communist secret police.His admission came after a Church commission acknowledged he had collaborated with the communist secret police.
Vatican statement
Archbishop Wielgus said he had had contacts with security agents, but denied informing on priests.Archbishop Wielgus said he had had contacts with security agents, but denied informing on priests.
He said documents suggesting otherwise were drawn up only by communist "functionaries".He said documents suggesting otherwise were drawn up only by communist "functionaries".
Our correspondent says that in a country where the Catholic Church plays such an important role, this scandal could hardly have been more shocking.
Pope Benedict XVI made the appointment last month.Pope Benedict XVI made the appointment last month.
Just before Christmas, the Vatican released a statement insisting the Pope had been fully briefed on Archbishop Wielgus' past and supported his appointment.Just before Christmas, the Vatican released a statement insisting the Pope had been fully briefed on Archbishop Wielgus' past and supported his appointment.
The Church plays a very prominent role in Polish society and was highly esteemed because of its leading role in the fight against communism in Poland and worldwide, particularly during the time of Polish Pope John Paul II.The Church plays a very prominent role in Polish society and was highly esteemed because of its leading role in the fight against communism in Poland and worldwide, particularly during the time of Polish Pope John Paul II.
But historians estimate that up to 15% of Polish clergy agreed to inform on their colleagues in the communist era.But historians estimate that up to 15% of Polish clergy agreed to inform on their colleagues in the communist era.