[6][7] The rate of decline has been described as "devastating"[8] the former social prestige and political influence that the Catholic Church in Poland once enjoyed.

[8] Ever since Poland officially adopted Christianity in 966, the Catholic Church has played an important religious, cultural and political role in the country post-schism.

During times of foreign oppression, the Catholic Church was a cultural guard in the fight for independence and national survival.

[11] The 1978 election of Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyła as Pope John Paul II strengthened the ties of identification.

John Paul's visits to Poland became rallying points for the faithful and galvanized opposition to the Soviet regime.

[citation needed] His beatification in 2011 and canonization 3 years later further instilled pride and joy in the Polish people.

[citation needed] In 2013, Pope Francis, John Paul II's 2nd successor (and who was made a cardinal by the Polish pope), announced that World Youth Day, the world's largest religious gathering of young people, would be held in Kraków, Poland in 2016.

Polish Catholics participate in the sacraments more frequently than their counterparts in most Western European and North American countries.

[17] By contrast, a 2005 study by Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research on the Apostolate revealed that only 14% of American Catholics take part in the sacrament of penance once a year, with a mere 2% doing so more frequently.

[19] This is in stark contrast to the otherwise similar neighboring Czech Republic, which is one of the least religious practicing areas on Earth, with only 35% declaring "they believe there is a God" of any kind.

[20] A 2014 report by L'Osservatore Romano found that the proportion of Polish Catholics attending Sunday Mass was approximately 39.1%.