The following article, originally published by Jezuici PL, reflects on the 46th anniversary of the August Agreements (Porozumienia Sierpniowe) and the birth of the Solidarity movement in Poland. Signed in August 1980 between the communist authorities and striking workers in several Polish cities, most notably at the Gdańsk Shipyard, the agreements recognised a number of workers’ demands and paved the way for the creation of Solidarity, the first independent trade union in the Soviet bloc. The movement would become a major force in the peaceful challenge to communist rule in Poland and, ultimately, in the wider transformation of Central and Eastern Europe. The anniversary celebration at the Jesuit Shrine of the Holy Name of Jesus in Łódź therefore became an opportunity not only to remember the historical role of the Church and Christian faith in the struggle for freedom, but also to ask what the legacy of Solidarity means for Poland and its society today.

On 31 August 2026, Poland marked the 46th anniversary of the August Agreements, the historic accords signed in 1980 between the communist authorities and striking workers in several Polish cities, most famously at the Gdańsk Shipyard. The agreements paved the way for the creation of Solidarity (Solidarność), the first independent trade union in the Soviet bloc, and became a decisive step in Poland’s eventual transition away from communist rule. The anniversary was commemorated at the Jesuit Shrine of the Holy Name of Jesus in Łódź with a Mass for the homeland celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Zbigniew Wołkowicz, bringing together politicians, trade unionists, clergy and representatives of local and national authorities.

The parish priest, Fr Krzysztof Ołdakowski SJ, called on those gathered not simply to remember the ideals of 1980, but to keep them alive and translate them into the realities of today. In his homily, Bishop Wołkowicz highlighted the Christian roots of the Solidarity movement, recalling the role of the Church and the teaching of Christ in giving people the courage and strength to challenge a communist system that at the time seemed impossible to overcome. He emphasised that Christian solidarity means standing alongside people who are weak or oppressed, sharing their struggles and helping them find a way forward.

The anniversary also became an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of solidarity today. Bishop Wołkowicz pointed to unity despite differences as one of the greatest challenges facing Polish society, recalling how people with different views were once able to come together around a common cause. He encouraged Christians to become instruments of unity wherever they are, while remaining particularly attentive to the most vulnerable. Although the political circumstances of 1980 belong to history, the challenge of building a society marked by solidarity, fraternity and concern for others remains very much alive.