Największa diecezja Europy. Konsekwencje powstania rozległej gorzowskiej administracji apostolskiej i geneza jej podziału w 1972 r.
Europe’s Biggest Diocese. The Consequences of the Creation of the Vast Gorzów Diocese and the Genesis of Its Division in 1972.

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to draw attention to the consequences of the creation of an expansive apostolic administration, the largest in Europe, in Western Pomerania and the Lubusz Region as well as the lack of the establishment of permanent ecclesiastical units. In order to fulfill this task, the author has made use of the available literature on the subject and analyzed the archival sources. Also important were answers to the following questions: Why was such an expansive ecclesiastical unit of organization created? Why were smaller provinces not immediately created? What were the consequences resulting from the lack of canonically erected permanent dioceses for Roman Catholic priests and lay faithful? What were the circumstances and events that caused the see of Gorzów to be divided as late as 1972? Apart from the preface and conclusion, this text consists of three essential chapters that present, respectively: the circumstances of the creation of an apostolicadministration in Kamień-Lubusz and the Prelature of Schneidemühl; a discussion on the effects of the creation of such a vast ecclesiastical territory; and the lack of permanent dioceses as well as an administrative division into three smaller administrative unites: the Dioceses of Gorzów, Szczecin-Kamień, and Koszalin-Kołobrzeg. The conclusions of the analysis are contained in the overview at the end.

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