Poland marks 1,050 Christianity anniversary

Poland's president Andrzej Duda led formal celebrations marking the 1,050th anniversary of Christianity in Poland with a speech declaring the baptism of duke Mieszko I as the most important historical event in the nation's history. The joint body, known as the National Assembly, met in Poznań, western Poland, a city considered to be the cradle of Polish statehood. It was the first such meeting to be held outside Warsaw. "The baptism of Mieszko I is the most important event in the whole history of the Polish state and nation. That decision by our first historical ruler decided the whole, following future of our country. We said then that we are ready to build a nation and… our own state, to create it, defend it, and when necessary, die for it," Duda said. During the mass, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, read out a message of blessing from Pope Francis, in the presence of President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Beata Szydło and dozens of other dignitaries gathered at the Gothic cathedral, which holds an ornate silver reliquary with the relics of St. Adalbert, a 10th century Czech monk who preached Christianity in Poland.