Jozef Kowalczyk Polish curial prelate and dignitary, Vatican diplomat Date of Birth: 28.08.1938 Country: Poland

1. Early Life and Education
2. Studies in Rome and Vatican Curia
3. Doctorate and Appointment to the Vatican Curia
4. Apostolic Nuncio to Poland
5. Archbishop of Gniezno and Primate of Poland

Early Life and Education

In 1955, the future Primate of Poland passed his high school graduation exam. He then embarked on his priestly studies at the Hosianum Major Seminary in Olsztyn in 1956. On March 18, 1961, he was ordained a deacon and on January 14, 1962, he was ordained a priest.

Studies in Rome and Vatican Curia

After his ordination, he was appointed vicar of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Kwidzyn. In October 1963, he commenced studies in canon law at the Catholic University of Lublin. On February 24, 1965, he continued his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University, specializing in canon law.

During his time in Rome, he completed a canonical administrative internship at the Congregation for the Clergy. He also collaborated with the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops and participated in research at the Vatican Secret Archive, earning a diploma in archival science.

Doctorate and Appointment to the Vatican Curia

In 1968, he obtained his doctorate in canon law. That same year, he began studying at the Tribunal of the Sacred Roman Rota, completing his training in 1971 with the title of Advocate of the Roman Rota.

On December 19, 1969, he was appointed to a permanent position in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He accompanied Archbishop Luigi Poggi, Apostolic Nuncio on a special mission to Poland (1976-1978) and served as a member of the Holy See Group for maintaining regular working contacts with the Polish government.

In October 1978, he was appointed head of the Polish section of the Secretariat of State. He was also appointed Secretary to Cardinal Jean-Marie Villot, Chairman of the Committee for the Publication of Karol Wojtyła's Letters Written Before His Election as Bishop of Rome. In 1981, he became a member of the Administrative Board of the John Paul II Foundation.

Apostolic Nuncio to Poland

After the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Poland in 1989, he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Poland. On August 26, 1989, he was named archbishop of Heraclea. He was consecrated as bishop on October 20, 1989, by Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Basilica.

As Apostolic Nuncio, he re-established the military ordinariate of the Polish Army in 1991 and oversaw several reorganizations of the Church's administrative structures in Poland. He played a key role in the negotiations leading to the signing of the concordat between the Holy See and the Republic of Poland in 1993.

Archbishop of Gniezno and Primate of Poland

On May 8, 2010, he was appointed Archbishop of Gniezno and Primate of Poland, succeeding Cardinal Józef Glemp. He served in this role until May 17, 2014, when he retired.