Dr Khzimierz Kakol, Poland's new minister responsible for Church-State relations has had a first meeting with Bishop Bronislaw Dahrowski, the secretary of the Roman Catholic episcopate. informed sources say.
The contacts were opened on the initiative of the government only eight days after Dr Kakol, a 53-year-old lawyer, replaced Dr Alexander Skarzynski as head of the Department of Religious Affairs.
The sources said that the discussion did not go into details of the conflicts which continue to divide the Church and the Communist authorities. Church leaders have adopted a cautious attitude towards the appointment of Dr Kakol who, in the past, has taken a harsh line towards the Church.
But Church officials appeared to welcome an announcement last week that the department would now be headed by a full minister. instead of a detail) minister.