The meeting took place on September 2nd in the Vatican after a general audience and lasted several minutes. After the meeting with Pope Leo XIV, former political prisoner Andrey Poczobut told the Polish Press Agency that he felt an inner peace.
Andrey Poczobut noted that for a Catholic, meeting the Pope is a special event. According to him, the recent months have been very intense, and before returning to Belarus, he felt increasing inner tension. Now, after talking with the Pontiff, he feels much calmer.
During the meeting, Poczobut asked the Pope to bless Belarus, his family, and the Union of Poles in Belarus. He also presented him with a copy of the icon of Our Lady of the Congregation, which several centuries ago came from the Apostolic See to Grodno and became one of the symbols of Polish Catholicism. Poczobut asked for this icon to be blessed so that it could later return to Grodno and remain with the Union of Poles in Belarus.
Speaking about the situation of Poles in Belarus, Poczobut noted that it remains difficult. After his release, he had many conversations with representatives of the Union of Poles and now knows much more about the situation. According to him, it will soon become clear what the situation truly looks like.
Recalling his years of imprisonment, Poczobut recounted that Christmas and Easter in prison were not particularly different from other days. Once, in a cell for 12 people, there was only one other Catholic with him, while the rest were Orthodox. Despite this, he gathered everyone at the table and shared opłatek (Christmas wafer) with them. Once, an opłatek given to him from another prison block by a Polish inmate almost became a real miracle.
Poczobut learned about the death of Pope Francis significantly late, as he was already held in intensified isolation during that period. He heard about the election of Leo XIV from state Belarusian radio, which was sometimes turned on in prison.
Poczobut is currently working on a book about his life experience. He admits that he wants to describe his five years of imprisonment in detail, as even the longest interview does not allow conveying everything he went through. According to him, he hopes to put an end to this story in this book and thus close this chapter for himself.
Poczobut also acknowledged that the years of imprisonment left psychological consequences. However, he says he is coping with them.
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