Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko as an Authority Figure and Role Model for Contemporary Youth: A Reflection on the 40th Anniversary of His Martyrdom

The article takes a closer look at Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko as an authority figure and role model for today’s youth, the occasion for which is the 40th anniversary of his martyrdom. The analyses are based on interdisciplinary methodology developed at the intersection of moral theology, pedagogy and sociology of values. The first part presents a theoretical outline of the concepts of authority figure, role model and imitation/emulation, pointing to their biblical, historical and axiological determinants. Then the main trends and socio-cultural transformations that affect the contemporary crisis of authority are presented. The main part of the study is a biographical sketch of Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko, showing the key values in his teaching (truth, freedom, solidarity, human dignity, love and courage) in the context of the socio-political realities of Poland of the 1980s. A comparative analysis of the axiological preferences of Polish youth and the values preached by the chaplain of “Solidarity” confirms the hypothesis that these attitudes are compatible. In conclusion, Fr. Popiełuszko’s figure can be an important point of reference for the young generation in building their identities and searching for authentic models based on Christian values.