Roman Catholic Cardinal. Born in Brzeczkowice (now Myslowice), Poland, his father was a railway worker. At age 12, he went to Turin, Italy to begin his study for the priesthood. Following his 1905 ordination in Krakow, Poland, he became a headmaster at a boy's school in Vienna, Austria and remained in that position until 1922 when he was appointed the Apostolic Administrator for Polish Upper Silesia. In 1925 he became the 1st Bishop of the Katowice Diocese and two years later he was appointed by Pope Pius XI as Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria della Pace. After German forces invaded Poland in September 1939, he departed to Rome, Italy to provide an official account to the Vatican on the Nazi abuses and persecutions of the Catholic Church in Poland. In March 1940 he took a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France and remained there following the German takeover of France. Four years later, he was arrested by the Gestapo and taken first to Paris, and then to Rheda-Wiedenbrtick in Germany. He was the only member of the Sacred College of Cardinals to be arrested and held in custody by the Gestapo. Following Germany's surrender, he was liberated by the American Army. In March 1946 Pope Pius XII appointed him Archbishop of Warsaw. After Russian forces gained control of Poland and imposed Communist rule, he became a harsh critic of their persecution of the Catholic Church. He died at the age of 67. Originally interred in the crypt of Saint John's Archcathedral, his remains were later moved to the Cathedral's Chapel of St. John the Baptist. In 1992 he was considered for canonization and was granted the posthumous title of Servant of God.
Roman Catholic Cardinal. Born in Brzeczkowice (now Myslowice), Poland, his father was a railway worker. At age 12, he went to Turin, Italy to begin his study for the priesthood. Following his 1905 ordination in Krakow, Poland, he became a headmaster at a boy's school in Vienna, Austria and remained in that position until 1922 when he was appointed the Apostolic Administrator for Polish Upper Silesia. In 1925 he became the 1st Bishop of the Katowice Diocese and two years later he was appointed by Pope Pius XI as Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria della Pace. After German forces invaded Poland in September 1939, he departed to Rome, Italy to provide an official account to the Vatican on the Nazi abuses and persecutions of the Catholic Church in Poland. In March 1940 he took a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France and remained there following the German takeover of France. Four years later, he was arrested by the Gestapo and taken first to Paris, and then to Rheda-Wiedenbrtick in Germany. He was the only member of the Sacred College of Cardinals to be arrested and held in custody by the Gestapo. Following Germany's surrender, he was liberated by the American Army. In March 1946 Pope Pius XII appointed him Archbishop of Warsaw. After Russian forces gained control of Poland and imposed Communist rule, he became a harsh critic of their persecution of the Catholic Church. He died at the age of 67. Originally interred in the crypt of Saint John's Archcathedral, his remains were later moved to the Cathedral's Chapel of St. John the Baptist. In 1992 he was considered for canonization and was granted the posthumous title of Servant of God.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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