Stanislaw Dziwisz
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Stanisław Dziwisz (born April 27, 1939 in Raba Wyżna), is a Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Poland. He was most known as a member of the Prefecture of the Papal Household and for his nearly forty years in service as private secretary to Pope John Paul II; Dziwisz was elevated to the rank of non-prelate archbishop during that service. Pope Benedict XVI appointed Dziwisz to his first prelature as the Archbishop of Krakow — an office once held by John Paul II.
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Overview
Born in a Polish village, Dziwisz studied in local seminaries after having received what he described as a calling to Holy Orders. After successful completion of theological studies Dziwisz was ordained on June 23, 1963 to the presbyterium of Krakow by its auxiliary bishop, Karol Józef Wojtyla. Wojtyla kept Dziwisz on staff as his personal secretary while Wojtyla served as auxiliary bishop and later archbishop. When Wojtyla left Krakow to become pope, Dziwisz continued as a diocesan priest until being recalled for service as private secretary again — this time in the Apostolic Palace of Vatican City.
Dziwisz was appointed titular bishop of San Leone and member of the Prefecture of the Papal Household on February 7, 1998. He was ordained to the episcopate in a ceremony on March 19 of that year. The principal consecrator was Wojtyla as Pope John Paul II, assisted by Angelo Cardinal Sodano, Secretary of State and Franciszek Cardinal Macharski, Wojtyla's successor as Archbishop of Krakow. John Paul II elevated Dziwisz to the rank of archbishop on September 29, 2003, retaining the titular see of San Leone.
Prefecture of the Papal Household
As John Paul's private secretary, Dziwisz issued many statements from the Vatican, occasionally clarifying situations, as in the case of The Passion of the Christ. When John Paul was quoted as saying "It is as it was", possibly suggesting that he supported the highly controversial Mel Gibson movie, Dziwisz stated for the press that, "The Holy Father has told no one of his opinion of this film."
Many people said that John Paul and Dziwisz had a father-son like relationship. He slept in a bedroom next to that of John Paul's, was always near him during Mass, and usually was with the him almost every waking moment. During John Paul's papacy, he became one of the most influential voices in the Vatican.
Polish Archbishop Stanisław Dziwisz, 65, John Paul's longtime private secretary who was at his bedside when he died, had also been mentioned as the possible secret cardinal which John Paul selected in 1993.
As the health of John Paul has declined, some had speculated that in light of being one of John Paul's most trusted aides Dziwisz may have been preparing the faithful for the worst. The Roman newspaper Il Messaggero reported that Archbishop Dziwisz mentioned his concern to another Polish priest. According to Vatican sources Dziwisz told the priest, "Pray for the pope, because he's getting worse." [1] (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050322/wl_afp/vaticanpopehealth_050322193134)
PopeAndDziwisz.jpg
On March 31, 2005 the John Paul's condition became serious enough that Archbishop Dziwisz performed the Anointing of the Sick upon John Paul. Before the death of John Paul, Dziwisz was reported to have helped him write a message to his staff not to grieve, that he (John Paul) was happy and that they should be too.
John Paul died on April 2, 2005 and according to rules created by John Paul, Archbishop Dziwisz packed his belongings and was forced to vacate the papal apartments before they were sealed by the camerlengo. It was believed that John Paul had hoped to appoint Archbishop Dziwisz as Archbishop of Krakow and elevate him to become a cardinal priest, a post and title the pope had held. A vacancy did not however occur before John Paul's death. It was Pope Benedict XVI who named Dziwisz to the post of Archbishop of Krakow.
During the Mass of Requiem on April 8 for John Paul, Archbishop Dziwisz would have the honor of placing a white silk veil over the face of the pope before being lowered into three separate caskets. It would be the symbolic last act of service of Archbishop Dziwisz as papal secretary for John Paul.
Archbishop of Krakow
On June 3, 2005, Benedict XVI appointed Dziwisz as successor to the retiring Macharski as Archbishop of Krakow. It had been suggested that John Paul II has been grooming Dziwisz for the position and was merely waiting for Macharski to retire before making such an appointment. Benedict XVI is believed to have made the appointment as one of the last wishes of John Paul II.
Dziwisz will most likely be honored with the papal title of cardinal in the consistory of 2005. Once he is named a Cardinal, Dziwisz will be eligible to vote in any future Papal Conclaves until his 80th birthday in 2019.
Resources
- Archdiocese of Krakow (http://www.diecezja.pl/)
- Catholic Hierarchy Profile of Stanislaw Dziwisz (http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdziwisz.html)
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