Polish insurer probed for major payout to prominent priest

The Polish insurance company PZU is under investigation for allegedly making an improper payment of 10 million PLN (around €2.33 million) to the Lux Veritatis Foundation linked to a controversial Catholic figure, Father Tadeusz Rydzyk, according to RMF FM.

On the left is Father Tadeusz Rydzyk, a Redemptorist priest, who is the founder and director of the Catholic Radio Maryja and TV Trwam, both known for their strong influence on Poland's conservative, far-right, and religious communities.

Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański, Tytus Żmijewski

The payment, related to a geothermic project, was deemed invalid due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. Despite this, PZU employees reportedly attempted to find ways to process the payment, which led to complications with external reinsurance companies that refused to pay.

Eventually, PZU paid 8 million PLN (approximately €1.87 million) themselves, just before the 2023 elections, which were won by opposition parties to the Law and Justice (PiS) party, known for its consistent support of Father Tadeusz Rydzyk.

“The previous management of PZU pushed for the improper payment to the Lux Veritatis Foundation, linked to Father Tadeusz Rydzyk,” according to a report submitted by the leadership of the state-owned insurer to the prosecutor's office, as shared by RMF FM on social media, citing their reporter's findings.

„The new management of PZU believes that actions were taken to the detriment of the company and that fraud was committed against foreign entities working with the insurer”, RMF FM's "Fakty" program emphasized on their X (formerly Twitter) profile.

Poprzedni zarząd PZU parł do wypłaty nienależnego odszkodowania dla związanej z Tadeuszem Rydzykiem fundacji Lux Veritatis - wynika z zawiadomienia do prokuratury złożonego przez szefostwo państwowego ubezpieczyciela - dowiedział się reporter RMF FM Krzysztof Zasada. Nowy zarząd…

— Fakty RMF FM (@RMF24pl) April 7, 2025

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Source: RMF FM/X/@RMF24pl