«In the hearts of those who knew him, he remained as an extremely just, sincere, courageous man who loved the Church…»
This is how Pope Francis remembered late Cardinal Marian Jaworski, Archbishop Emeritus of Lviv of the Latins, who passed away Sept. 5, 2020, in a letter of condolences he sent to Krakow’s current Archbishop Marek Jadraszewski.
Cardinal Jaworski, Francis underscored, «left a worthy testimony of priestly zeal, erudition, fidelity to the Gospel and responsibility for the community of believers.»
Francis remembered him as the «cordial friend» of St. John Paul II, noting he supported him in the labors of the episcopal and papal ministry and administered the Anointing of the Sick to the dying Pope.
As a philosopher and theologian, the Jesuit Pontiff continued, he collaborated closely with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
«Personally,» Pope Francis shared, «I am united with him by the date of the Consistory of 2001, when we were both created cardinals.»
The late Cardinal’s focus on Christ, the Holy Father recognized, accompanied him throughout his life and defined his way of thinking, evaluating, making choices, making decisions and in much research.
«I thank the Lord for the life and apostolic ministry of this faithful witness of the Gospel,» the Pope said.
The Pontiff also praised his contributions to academia «as an appreciated man of science and professor of theology and philosophy» at the universities of Warsaw, Krakow and Lviv, and as Dean and the first Rector of the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Krakow. St. John Paul II, Francis recalled, often emphasized his particular and precious contribution to scientific development.
«May the Merciful Jesus Christ, to whom Cardinal Marian, of luminous memory, dedicated his life,» Pope Francis prayed, «welcome him in his glory.»
Below is a Zenit working translation of the Vatican-provided text of the telegram of condolences:
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To His Most Reverend Excellency
Monsignor Marek Jadraszewski
Metropolitan Archbishop of Krakow
I learnt with profound grief the news of the death of His Most Reverend Eminence, Cardinal Marian Jaworski. I join Your Excellency in the prayer of intercession and that of all the faithful of the Church in Poland and in Ukraine, in particular in the Archdiocese of Krakow, in the Diocese of Zamosc-Lubaczow and in the Archdiocese of Lviv. I thank the Lord for the life and apostolic ministry of this faithful witness of the Gospel.
I remember with gratitude his academic commitment, as appreciated man of science and Professor of Theology and Philosophy at the Athenaeums of Warsaw, Krakow and Lviv; as Dean and first Rector of Krakow’s Pontifical Academy of Theology. Saint john Paul II often highlighted his particular and precious contribution to scientific development.
“Mihi vivere Christus est,” this episcopal motto accompanied him throughout his life and described his way of thinking, of assessing, of making choices, of taking decisions and of describing the perspective of different researches. He remained in the hearts of those who knew him as an extremely just, sincere, courageous man who loved the Church. He has left a worthy testimony of priestly zeal, of erudition, of fidelity to the Gospel and of responsibility for the community of believers.
He was the cordial friend of Saint John Paul II. He supported him in the labours of the episcopal and papal ministry. He also administered to the dying Pope the Sacrament of Anointing. As philosopher and theologian, he collaborated closely with Pope Benedict XVI. The date of the Consistory of the year 2001 unites me personally to him, when we were both created Cardinals.
May the Merciful Jesus Christ, to whom Cardinal Marian — of luminous memory –dedicated his life, receive him in His glory.
To Your Excellency, to the Very Eminent Lord Cardinals, taking part in the funeral liturgy, to the Bishops, to the Family of the Deceased, to the People of God of the Church in Poland and in Ukraine, and to all to the participants in this last farewell, I send my heartfelt Blessing: in the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
From the Vatican, September 7, 2020
Francis
[Zenit working translation of Vatican-provided text] [Original Language: Polish]Here is a Vatican-provided English biography of the late cardinal, published on Vatican News:
Cardinal Marian Jaworski, Archbishop emeriturs of Lviv for Latins, Ukraine, was born on 21 August 1926 in Lwów, Poland, today Lviv, Ukraine. He was ordained on 25 June 1950 and, after a year of pastoral work, continued his studies, earning doctorates in theology at the Theological Academy of Kraków and in philosophy at the Catholic University of Lublin.
He taught for several years at the Catholic Theological Academy of Warsaw and later at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Kraków. He also lectured in metaphysics and the philosophy of religion at the seminaries of various religious orders. From 1981 to 1987 he was the first rector of the Pontifical Theological Academy of Kraków.
On 21 May 1984 he was appointed titular Bishop of Lambaesis and Apostolic Administrator of Lubaczów, receiving episcopal ordination on 23 June.
On 16 January 1991 he was promoted to Archbishop of Lviv for Latins and served as President of the Ukrainian Episcopal Conference.
He became Archbishop emeritus of Lviv for Latins, 21 October 2008.
He participated in the conclave of April 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI.
He was created Cardinal and reserved “in pectore” by St. John Paul II in the consistory of 21 February 1998; his cardinalate was proclaimed in the consistory of 21 February 2001, with the Title of St. Sisto (St. Sixtus).
Cardinal Marian Jaworski died on 5 September 2020.
