MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — The death of Poland’s president and 95 others in a plane crash while en route to commemorate a Second World War massacre is a “cruel irony,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper told thousands gathered for a remembrance mass on Thursday.
Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife and the others — including many high-ranking government and military officials — died Saturday when the Tu-154 plane went down while trying to land in dense fog at Smolensk near Katyn.
The delegation was on its way to a commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the massacre of Polish officers at Katyn by Soviet secret police.
“The fact that this tragic event took place so near Katyn and the marking of the 70th anniversary of the massacre of thousands of Poland’s military, political and intellectual leadership is a cruel irony indeed,” Harper said at the outset of the mass.
“Few countries in the world have endured so much, so often at the hands of unforgiving fate as has Poland. But fewer still have demonstrated so much resilience in response to hardship.”
The people of Poland can draw strength from the one million Canadians of Polish descent who have made immeasurable contributions to this country, Harper added.
“Whenever Poland grieves, Canada grieves,” he said.
“We stand with the victims of Katyn then and now.”
The mass at St. Maximillian Kolbe Roman Catholic church, which drew thousands of Polish-Canadians, was led by Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins. It was also attended by opposition leaders Jack Layton and Michael Ignatieff.
Earlier this week Harper declared Thursday a national day of mourning for Canadians to stand in solidarity with the people of Poland and the Polish-Canadian community as they deal with the loss.
Russia never has formally apologized for the murders but Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s decision to attend a memorial ceremony earlier this week in the forest was seen as a gesture of goodwill toward reconciliation.
Harper and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev are among many world leaders planning to attend a state funeral for Kaczynski on Sunday at Krakow’s 1,000-year-old Wawel Cathedral, the main burial site of Polish monarchs since the 14th century.
“It’s a symbolic gesture, but it’s a gesture that is full of meaning,” said Rev. Pawel Ratajczak, director of Catholic Youth Studio.
“I think it is deeply appreciated by Polish people who see this as a sign of solidarity on the part of Canadians, non-Polish Canadians. It is a day to mourn, but also a day to be thankful.”
Big screen televisions were set up in a hall next to the church for the thousands who would not be able to get inside, and mourners left dozens of candles burning in lanterns outside.
Many people who stood in the parking lot outside the large church to listen to the memorial mass on loudspeakers were in tears, and some said they were still too shocked or upset to talk about the tragedy.
“It is ever, very, very important for Canada to do this,” said Jerzy Rozyski of Mississauga, who was carrying a large Polish flag.
“I’m sorry. I am unable to speak more. It’s a very sad situation.”
A tearful Anna Rozyski counted herself a supporter of President Kaczynski and said she’s still in shock.
“I don’t know if I can be free to talk to you. I am enemies of the Communists and I feel very, very bad for my country, afraid.”
Polish-Russian relations had been improving recently after being poisoned for decades over the massacre.