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DZIWISZ Card. Stanisław


DZIWISZ Card. Stanisław

Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, Archbishop emeritus of Krakow (Poland), was born on 27 April 1939 in Raba Wyżna, Poland. He was ordained a priest on 23 June 1963 by the-then Auxiliary Bishop of Krakow, Karol Wojtyła.

In 1967 he received a licentiate in theology from the Faculty of Theology of Krakow, and in 1981 he received a doctorate in theology.

He began his pastoral ministry as parochial vicar, and in October 1966 Archbishop Wojtyła appointed him as his chaplain and secretary. When Cardinal Wojtyła of Krakow was elected Pope, he appointed Mons. Dziwisz as his personal secretary; he held this office until the death of Pope John Paul II on 2 April 2005.

On 7 February 1998 he was appointed titular Bishop of San Leone and Adjunct Prefect of the Pontifical Household. He was ordained Bishop by John Paul II on 19 March 1998. On 29 September 2003 he was raised to the dignity of Archbishop.

Pope Benedict XVI appointed the new Cardinal as Archbishop of Krakow on 3 June 2005.

On 4 November 2005, in Krakow, he began the diocesan process of inquiry of the heroic virtue of the Servant of God John Paul II (Karol Wojtyła). He participated in the beatification ceremony of Karol Wojtyła held on 1 May 2011 in St. Peter’s Square.

He participated in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis.

Created and proclaimed cardinal by Benedict XVI in the consistory of 24 March 2006, of the Title of Santa Maria del Popolo (St. Mary del Popolo).

On December 8th, 2016, the Holy Father Francis accepted his resigntation from the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Krakow on having reached the age limit.