Wyszyński is known as the "Primate of the Millennium" because as Primate of Poland he oversaw a nine-year program of preparation culminating in a nationwide celebration of the millennium of Poland's baptism in 1966.
The Sejm's resolution also praised the cardinal for his robust defense of the Church's independence under communism. It alluded to his 1953 letter to Poland's communist leader Bolesław Bierut in which he refused to subordinate the Church to the authorities, declaring "Non possumus!" (We cannot). Wyszyński was imprisoned later that year.
"As a man of deep faith and love for the Church and the Fatherland, he sought agreement with the authorities. However, when the actions of the authorities of the Polish People's Republic threatened the rights of the Church and the faithful, they heard the resolute 'Non possumus!' The Primate of Poland was imprisoned. He became a symbol of an unwavering attitude of opposition to evil," said the resolution, dated Nov. 27 and passed by 387 votes to 48, with 16 abstentions.
In its resolution, the Senate described Wyszyński as "one of the greatest Poles of the 20th century."
"It is impossible to accurately describe the merits and the role that Primate Stefan Wyszyński played in those years for Poland and the Church. He and John Paul II were together the great teachers of the nation and supported Poles in the most difficult moments in our homeland's history," said the resolution, dated Dec. 2 and passed by 77 votes to three, with two abstentions.
It continued: "He watched over the fate of the Polish Church in the darkest years of Stalinism with exceptional care. For his steadfast attitude towards the communist authorities, for his opposition to the destruction of social and ecclesial life -- expressed by the famous phrase 'Non possumus!' -- he was imprisoned for several years."