The Dalai Lama is visiting the Republic of Poland from 5 to 12 December 2008, at invitations from the Lech Walesa Institute, the Jagiellonian University, the Mayor and City Council of Wroclaw, the Speaker of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, the Polish Parliamentary Group for Tibet, and the Mayor of the City of Warsaw.

During his visit to Poland, despite negative reaction from the Chinese authorities, the Tibetan leader will be met by Polish leaders and the President of France, M. Nicolas Sarkozy, on 6 December in Gdansk, where His Holiness has been invited to address a meeting of fellow Nobel Peace Laureates marking the 25th anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to former Polish President Lech Walesa. His Holiness has also been invited to Gdansk to speak at an international conference of World Forum of the Young on 5 December, which will be attended by about 1000 participants, including 100 journalists.

In Warsaw, His Holiness will meet with the Speaker of the Senate Hon. Bogdan Borusewicz, and address members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, parliament members and members of the Polish Parliamentary Group for Tibet. His Holiness will also visit the City Hall and meet with Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz and Councillors of the Warsaw City, which is organising a public talk by His Holiness on 11 December.

In Krakow, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be awarded an honorary doctorate on 8 December by the Jagiellonian University, one of the most prestigious academic institutes in Poland.

In the southwestern Polish City of Wroclaw, His Holiness will be presented with the Honorary Citizenship by the Wroclaw City Council on 10 December, which happens to be the day when His Holiness the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his efforts in leading the non-violent Tibetan struggle for freedom, and for advocating world peace and addressing global environmental issues.