Rzecznik Kościoła katolickiego na Ziemiach Zachodnich i Północnych. Działalność Bolesława Kominka na forum Konferencji Episkopatu Polski i jej komisji (1956-1974)

The aim of the article is to present the profile of Bolesław Kominek, who played a significant role in the work of the Conference of the Polish Episcopate and its specialist committees. Formally, since 1954 he was a member of ECP, but participated in meetings since the end of 1956. The research problem is to characterise his activity, which included several areas of action: the preparation of pastoral letters, addresses and pastoral words; participation in the formation of relations with the authorities of the Polish People’s Republic; contribution to regulating the status of the Catholic Church in the Western and Northern Lands; study work related to the reorganization of the structures of the Polish ecclesial administration; contacts with the Holy See; episcopal conferences and participation in Vatican gatherings. An important part of his engagement at the Episcopal Conference of Poland was work in specialist committees. During his twenty years of ministry, Bishop Bolesław Kominek was a member of the following bodies: The Pastoral Commission/General Pastoral Ministry of the Episcopate of Poland – President from 1958 to 1974; Commission Iustitia et Pax of the Episcopate of Poland – ecclesial assistant and chairman from 1968 to 1974; Commission for the Church in the Western and Northern Lands of the Episcopate of Poland – President from 1970 to 1972; Commission for Christian Charity/Charitable Ministry of the Episcopate of Poland – member from 1958 to 1967; the Marian Committee of the Episcopate of Poland – member from 1958 to 1974; Polish Episcopal Council Commission – member from 1963 to 1970. The author puts forward the hypothesis that the activity of the Wrocław hierarch, rich in many initiatives, not only shows the scope of his pastoral engagement, but allows to discover the depth of Bishop Kominek’s vision of the Church, better assess his impact on post-war ecclesial reality and appreciate the role of the spokesperson of Polishness in Western and Northern Lands. The text is based on unpublished archival materials and on the basis of the literature of the subject.