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Religion in Poland facts for kids

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Poland's religious beliefs today are shaped by its past. A very important event was the Baptism of Poland in 966. This made Poland a Christian country in Europe. Poland became Christian through its neighbors, the Czechs. This is one reason why most people in Poland are Catholic today.

Christianity in Poland

Around 9 out of 10 people in Poland are Christians. Most of them, about 87%, are Roman Catholics. There are also about half a million Orthodox people in Poland. Most of these are part of the Polish Orthodox Church.

Poland also has some Protestant groups. There are about 200,000 to 300,000 Protestants, especially from the Evangelical Church.

Poland became Christian in 966. This happened when Mieszko I, who was the prince of Poland, decided to adopt Christianity. There were political reasons why Poland decided to become Christian and move away from its older Slavic beliefs.

The Catholic Church

Catholics in Poland include two main groups:

  • The Roman Catholic Church
  • The Greek Catholic Church

The Greek Catholic Church was formed in Poland in the 1600s. It brought together some Orthodox groups with the Roman Catholic Church.

Some of the most important places for Catholic pilgrimages in Poland are Jasna Góra in Częstochowa and Licheń. Many important Catholic saints and blessed people were from Poland. These include Pope John Paul II and Jerzy Popiełuszko.

Judaism in Poland

Before World War II, Poland was home to a very large Jewish community. About 6 million Jewish people lived there. Today, around 10,000 Jewish people live in Poland. Many Jewish people were killed during the Holocaust. Others moved away after World War II due to difficult times. Most Jewish people in Poland today live in big cities. These cities include Warsaw, Kraków, and Łódź. Jewish people have lived in Poland for over a thousand years.

Islam in Poland

There are also some Muslim groups in Poland. Their population is estimated to be about 10,000 people. Poland has several mosques, which are Muslim places of worship. The oldest mosques are in Bohoniki and Kruszyniany. Muslims have lived in Poland for more than 600 years. Many of them live in the Podlasie region.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Religión en Polonia para niños

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