The sign of peace between Tadeusz Mazowiecki and Helmut Kohl during a Holy Mass in Krzyżowa - fragment

Alfons Nossol, the Bishop of Opole, celebrated a Holy Mass in Krzyżowa attended by Tadeusz Mazowiecki and Helmut Kohl. The sign of peace with which they greeted each other had symbolical and manifold meaning. In its religious aspect, it was a gesture between two Christians. However, it was also a gesture by a Prime Minister of Poland towards the Chancellor of Germany. Not everyone appreciated it, and it took some time before it was considered a symbol of Polish-German reconciliation, an idea, which gradually began to be realized.