Plot

Story of life of Father Jerzy Popieluszko, the priest called "The Solidarity Chaplain", murdered by communist secret police.

The plot begins in 50s in the Podlasie region of Poland where communist authorities systematically demolish the post war remains of guerilla forces their natural political opposition. The communist propaganda is rampaging. For the family of young Popieuszko religion is the only stable element of their existence. Consequently priestly vocation is born in the boys heart.

The end of 60s. Young Alek is forced to compulsory military service in a special military unit for seminarians. Juvenile rebelliousness and faith make him a spiritual leader to his peers in their resistance against communist political indoctrination. He faces persecution. He becomes mentally firm but his health is seriously weakened.

The end of 70s in Warsaw. Alek (named Father George) unsuccessfully acts as a pastor to hospital nurses. Hes deserted at his first mass. In the meantime Karol Wojtya is elected a Pope. This makes Father George consolidate the community and organize medical service to the first pilgrimage of John Paul II to his homeland.

August, 1980. Father George is a priest in the parish of St. Stanislaw Kostka. His curate isnt very enthusiastic about him because he cant sing nicely. When steelworkers on strike ask to celebrate a mass for them only accident makes Popieuszko find himself in a steel plant . Here he learns the real labourers problems and starts helping them. It makes him feel useful and happy.

Martial law is introduced. Tanks are standing in Warsaw streets. Steelworkers strike is brutally suppressed. Father George recognizes the feeling of hate in his heart. He fights it by total devotion to helping the victims. His presence at political trials of labourers attracts the attention of communist secret service agents.

Father George is trying to restrain his protégés from participating in an independence demonstration on 3rd of May but he accidentally becomes a witness of its dramatic pacification by the communist militia. His survival from that gives him an asset to give a sermon during the Mass for Motherland. It turns up that Father George can excellently express peoples feelings. He gets respect and admiration but also envy and hate. State authorities complain of him to the church hierarchy but the bishops cant find anything contradictory to the Gospel in his words.

More and more people come to Father George. He becomes an authority. A few tries of intimidation by communist secret service especially throwing in a bomb cause spontaneous forming of voluntary church guard by the labourers who protect the Priest himself and protect the Masses for Motherland against any provocation. Famous actors, groups from all over the country and friends from abroad who attend these masses grow in numbers.

When in May, 1983 the son of an opposition activist, Grzegorz Przemyk, is brutally murdered by the communist militia, Warsaw stuns with terror. On the contrary to his advisors opinions Father George convinces the church hierarchy that they have to demand justice. He organizes the burial when, on his demand, 60 thousand people demonstrate their opposition with silence. Father George slowly comes to understanding what his role is and how much power of influence lies in his hands. He accepts the number of invitations from all over the country and wherever he appears he calls the evil with its proper name and demands the truth. State authorities force him to visit the public prosecutors office. While searching his house militia find some discreditable materials. Father George is arrested but released after the intervention of the bishops. Hes told off by them after that and the media vilify him. His friends cant understand why he doesnt want to attack his foes by name. Father George feels week and lonely. He leaves to the mountains and there he meets a man who gives him the words of support from The Pope.

Father George is preparing the pilgrimage of labourers to the Jasna Góra sanctuary. He learns some threads that if he makes it happen he will be killed. He realizes that some communist secret service agents are among people in his nearest vicinity. Some acquaintances suggest him to flee to a research visit abroad. The primate agrees to that providing Popieuszko will ask for that. Father George refuses to do that.

Father George visits his land of childhood. He slowly prepares his family and relatives to his death. Then he conducts the pilgrimage of labourers to the Jasna Góra sanctuary. There he gets some new invitations from other cities. Travelling to Gdask he faces the first assassination attempt.

Father George becomes moody. Apparently he behaves ordinarily but before the next visit to other town he starts prolonging the meetings with people, the holy masses, confessions.

He leaves to Bydgoszcz. There he holds the rosary meditations. On his return trip he is kidnapped, tormented and murdered.

The news about Father Georges kidnapping and murder results in the nationwide retreat. Tens of thousands of people confess their sins and take communion. Hundreds of thousands of Poles come to his burial and this time they are not afraid to demand the truth. People from Hungary, Czechoslovakia and other countries arrive in secret, too.