Religia i religijność w czasie koronawirusa na przykładzie Polski. Perspektywa socjologiczna

The coronavirus pandemic and the preventive measures introduced together with it, in many countries have changed the previous ways of functioning and activity of people in various spheres, including also the religious one. Restricting mobility, the recommended social distancing have influenced the conventional forms of religious activity, which initially was connected with a radical limitation of the number of persons participating in the liturgy in Poland, while with time it meant closing church buildings entirely. As a result, actions were taken by the Catholic Church allowing for inter alia maintaining the contact of the faithful with the community as well as the remote participation in the liturgy. This article will attempt to outline the initiatives taken by the Church in the time of the spread of the pandemic, which were a form of adjusting to the introduced restrictions, at the same time being a form of the continuation of the pastoral activities. This will make it possible to show to what extent in the period of the pandemic the Polish religiousness has preserved its vitality so far, which distinguishes itself in comparison with other countries of Western Europe. The image of religion and religiousness in Poland in this unusual period will be shown two-dimensionally. First of all, a reconstruction of the official position of the Church in Poland in the period of the pandemic will be made, together with presenting a part of the undertaken initiatives. Secondly, the extent of the media interest in the offer of the liturgy will be demonstrated. The multi-dimensional perspective will make it possible to present the role of the Church and the actions implemented by it, as well as the religious activity of the Polish people during this special time.