Consecration of the cornerstone by the Pope for the construction of the museum in Okopy

On October 22, 2025, a delegation from the Father Jerzy Popiełuszko “Dobro” Foundation participated in a general audience with Pope Leo XIV. During the meeting in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope solemnly blessed the cornerstone for the construction of a museum dedicated to Father Popiełuszko in the town of his birth – Okopy.

Members of Father Jerzy’s immediate family were also present at this special event: his brother Józef Popiełuszko, his nephew Marek (Józef’s son), and the son of Father Jerzy’s youngest brother – Jerzy Popiełuszko, along with his fiancée Martyna. In addition to the Blessed’s family, representatives of our Foundation were present: Bogdan Romaniuk, Chairman of the Program Council; Michał Matyskiel, Vice-Chairman; Mayor of Suchowola; and Eliza Pardyka, Chair of the Youth Council.

A two-person delegation, consisting of the Foundation’s president, Marek Popiełuszko, and the Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship, Łukasz Prokorym, went to the Pope with the cornerstone.
Leo XIV said he knew the blessed martyr and prayed for his intercession. The priest’s nephew presented His Holiness with the “Fidelity to Truth” Medal and noted the special coincidence that both Father Jerzy and the Pope himself were born on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross – September 14th. He also suggested that the Pope look more closely into the matter of Blessed Jerzy’s canonization.

The delegation also included representatives of the Podlaskie Voivodeship and the Podlaskie Museum in Białystok.

We encourage you to follow the subsequent stages of the museum’s construction and visit Okopy – the place where the extraordinary story of Blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko began.