The official opening of the John Paul II Centre for Research on Polish Culture took place in Porto Alegre. It was created by the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) together with the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS). The event also inaugurates the activities of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) Polish Centre in Brazil and Latin America.

As an academic unit, the John Paul II Centre for Polish Culture has as its goal the promotion and teaching of the Polish language, the dissemination of Polish history and culture in Brazil and the preservation of Polish cultural heritage, present in many places in this country.

According to the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, the recipients of the Centre’s activities are all those who wish to make an effort to learn the Polish language and become acquainted with Polish history and culture. “They are the students of the University of Porto Alegre, Polish youth, as well as other students and Brazilian youth who have any links with Poland”, added the rector of the Catholic University of Lublin.