30 October 1984: Pro-Solidarity priest is murdered

Polish police have recovered the body of a Roman Catholic priest an outspoken champion of the banned trade union Solidarity.

Father Jerzy Popieluszko, aged 37, was kidnapped on 19 October allegedly by three secret police, led by a police captain in the Interior Ministry, who have since been arrested.

Father Popieluszko had become famous throughout Poland when he drew thousands to his church where he preached against the Communist government.

In March this year the Pope sent Father Popieluszko a gift via the Bishop of Warsaw after he had attacked the Polish Communist government for banning crucifixes from schools.

Eleven days ago, he was ambushed on a forest road near the town of Torun, 45 miles (72km) from the reservoir.

Divers found the priest's remains in the Wloclawek reservoir, west of the capital Warsaw after a two-day search. The alleged kidnappers had said they had dumped his body in a reservoir on the River Vistula.

When the news was announced at his parish church, his congregation was silent for a moment and then began shrieking and weeping with grief.

Source.