Cardinal Ryś: Hatred Will Not Have the Last Word
Six people were killed near St. Mary’s Basilica as Poland’s bishops urged prayer, unity, and a Sunday Mass for the victims.
On the afternoon of Saturday, November 7, 2026, a man drove a black Subaru without license plates into Kraków’s Main Market Square and, while wearing military camouflage, opened fire on passersby with a semi-automatic AR-15-type rifle. Six people were killed and about 15 were wounded, including two police officers.
The 25-year-old Polish national, who, according to initial reports, acted alone, was shot by police, taken to a hospital, and underwent surgery. The motive remains unknown. Prime Minister Donald Tusk traveled to Kraków and confirmed that an investigation had been opened. President Karol Nawrocki expressed condolences to the victims and their families.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated, “There can be no justification for this attack.” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Poland “is not alone in this moment of mourning.” U.S. Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose called the shooting a “savage and murderous” attack and pledged Washington’s support for the Polish people.
Church leaders respond
Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, president of the Polish Episcopal Conference, said, “I am deeply shocked by what happened in Kraków. We do not yet know the reasons or motives for such a cruel act. However, we already know its tragic consequences.” He said it was hard to believe such scenes could unfold “right next to St. Mary’s Basilica,” a place where many people go to stroll and relax. Wojda prayed that God grant eternal rest to the dead and healing to the injured, and he extended his prayers to the families, doctors, and emergency services.
Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, Archbishop of Kraków, wrote in a message published on the archdiocesan website: “Something terrible has happened! Violence, aggression and hatred have struck us once again in a way that surpasses all reason.” He continued, “We do not want, we cannot and we are not able to remain indifferent at a time like this. We want, we need, and we must stand together,” noting that anyone could have been in the square at that moment.
Ryś asked parish priests to stay close to the families concerned and invited the faithful to a Mass for the victims and the healing of the wounded at St. Mary’s Basilica on Sunday, November 8, at 4 p.m. “For our faith, we are never powerless,” he wrote. “The last word does not and cannot belong to hatred.”