Franciszek Macharski (Polish pronunciation: [fraɲˈt͡ɕiʂɛk maˈxarskʲi]; 20 May 1927 – 2 August 2016[1]) was a Polish cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He was appointed Archbishop of Kraków from 1978, named by Pope John Paul II to succeed him in that role. Macharski was elevated to the cardinalate in 1979, and resigned as archbishop in 2005.[2]


Franciszek Macharski

Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus of Kraków
Archbishop Emeritus, Franciszek Cardinal Macharski
ArchdioceseKraków
SeeKraków
Appointed29 December 1978
Installed28 January 1979
Term ended3 June 2005
PredecessorKarol Wojtyła
SuccessorStanisław Dziwisz
Other post(s)Cardinal-Priest of San Giovanni a Porta Latina
Orders
Ordination2 April 1950
by Adam Stefan Sapieha
Consecration6 January 1979
by Pope John Paul II
Created cardinal30 June 1979
by Pope John Paul II
RankCardinal-Priest
Personal details
Born
Franciszek Macharski

(1927-05-20)20 May 1927
Kraków, Poland
Died2 August 2016(2016-08-02) (aged 89)
Kraków, Poland
NationalityPolish
DenominationRoman Catholic
MottoJesu in te confido (Jesus, I trust in you)
Coat of armsFranciszek Macharski's coat of arms

Early life

edit

Franciszek Macharski was born on 20 May 1927 in Kraków, Poland. He was the youngest of four children. During World War II he worked as a menial laborer and afterward entered the seminary in Kraków, where he also studied theology. He was ordained as a priest in April 1950 by Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha. Until 1956 he was a vicar in a parish near Bielsko-Biała and was then transferred to Fribourg, Switzerland, to continue his theological studies. He received his doctorate in 1960.[3]

Vocation

edit

Macharski was appointed Archbishop of Kraków in December 1978 by Pope John Paul II, who had been Archbishop of that city himself until his election to the Papacy in October 1978.[4][5] Macharski was consecrated as a Bishop by John Paul II himself at the Vatican on 6 January 1979 and took possession of the Archdiocese of Kraków on 28 January 1979, when he was installed at Wawel Cathedral.

Archbishop Macharski was created Cardinal-Priest of San Giovanni a Porta Latina as his titular church in June 1979, the first consistory of John Paul II,[3] just six months after his episcopal consecration. He was a member of the cardinal electors of the 2005 papal conclave that elected Joseph Alois Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI. He lost the right to vote in conclaves when he turned 80 in May 2007.[3]

Macharski retired as Archbishop of Kraków on 3 June 2005. His successor was Pope John Paul II's private Secretary, Stanisław Dziwisz.[6]

Death

edit

Cardinal Macharski fell down the stairs of his home in June 2016.[7] Pope Francis visited Macharski in a Kraków hospital on 28 July 2016, while Macharski was in a coma.[5] He died five days later.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Nie żyje kardynał Franciszek Macharski". RMF 24. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  2. ^ Gazeta Wyborcza, "Kardynał Franciszek Macharski - sylwetka". Archived from the original on 6 June 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Macharski, Franciszek :: Catholic News Agency". Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Polish cardinal dies aged 89". The Catholic Herald. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Pope makes surprise visit to ill cardinal on way to shrine". The Catholic Herald. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  6. ^ "Historia Diecezji: Biskupi krakowscy (Kraków bishops)". Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2016.. Kuria Archidiecezji Krakowskiej, 2009. Pages 1–3. Retrieved 23 December 2012. (in Polish)
  7. ^ Berendt, Joanna (2 August 2016). "Franciszek Macharski, 89, Dies; Archbishop Succeeded John Paul II in Krakow". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
edit
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Karol Wojtyła
(Pope John Paul II)
Archbishop of Kraków
29 December 1978 – 3 June 2005
Succeeded by
Preceded by Cardinal-Priest of San Giovanni a Porta Latina
30 June 1979 – 2 August 2016
Succeeded by