Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major and President emeritus of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, was born on 4 July 1945 in Andrychów, Poland. Ordained a priest on 30 March 1969, he holds a licentiate from the Pontifical Theological Academy and a doctorate in social sciences from the Pontifical Gregorian University.

He was Vice Rector of the major seminary of Krakow and then professor of pastoral theology and sociology of religion at the Pontifical Theological Academy. At the same time, he was Secretary of the Commission for the Apostolate of the Laity, focusing on popular piety and the role of small communities and ecclesial movements.

In 1987 he was called to Rome to head the youth section of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and served as office director.  During this time he coordinated the organization of the World Youth Days in Santiago de Compostela (1989), Częstochowa (1991) and Denver (1993). In 1992 he was transferred to the Polish section of the Secretariat of State.

On 20 December 1995 he was appointed Titular Bishop of Novica and Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. He was ordained a bishop on 6 January 1996.

On 4 October 2003 he was appointed Archbishop and President of the Council for the Laity. Since then he has organized the World Youth Days in Cologne (August 2005), Sydney (July 2008), Madrid (August 2011) and Rio de Janeiro (July 2013).

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

On September 24, 2013, he was confirmed by Pope Francis as President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, until the end of the quinquennium.

On 28 December 2016, Pope Francis appointed him Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

He was created and proclaimed Cardinal by Benedict XVI in the Consistory of 24 November 2007, and assigned the titular church Sacro Cuore di Cristo Re. He was elevated pro hac vice from Cardinal Deacon to Cardinal Priest on 19 May 2018.

Member of:

·     Dicastery for the Causes of Saints

·     The Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses