02-05-2025
Stanislaw Gebhardt, 96: Charismatic Polish veteran of the Christian Democratic movement
In his discreet yet influential way, Stanislaw Gebhardt, the Polish exile and veteran of the Christian democratic movement, spent a lifetime working behind the scenes to promote democracy across the world. Through his efforts, leading political and religious figures from vastly different ideologies found common ground.
Yet it was the political activist's work in Latin America and Africa that brought him the most satisfaction. In the late 1950s, he played a pivotal role in organising the first Latin American Christian Democratic conference, helping countries to navigate the ideological tensions of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. For his lifelong dedication, he received several prestigious honours, including the Order of Bernardo O'Higgins from Chile, the Order of the Liberator from Venezuela,
