Wojciech Polak

His Excellency
Wojciech Polak
Archbishop of Gniezno
Primate of Poland
Archbishop Wojciech Polak
Church Roman Catholic
Archdiocese Gniezno
Installed 7 June 2014
Predecessor Józef Kowalczyk
Orders
Ordination 13 May 1989
Consecration 4 May 2003
Personal details
Born (1964-12-19) 19 December 1964
Inowrocław, Poland
Nationality Polish
Motto Dominum confiteri Iesum
(Profess Jesus as the Lord)
Coat of arms

Wojciech Polak (born 19 December 1964) is the Roman Catholic archbishop of Gniezno, Poland, since his appointment on 17 May 2014. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of Gniezno.

Biography

Early life

Polak was born in 1964 in Inowrocław, within the territory of the archdiocese. After passing his exams in 1983, he was admitted to the Major Seminary of Gniezno and on 13 May 1989 he was ordained to the priesthood. In the years 1989-1991 was an assistant priest at St. Martin and Nicholas' Church in Bydgoszcz.[1]

Studies

He was sent to Rome where he studied at the Alphonsian Academy, where he obtained a licentiate in 1996 and a doctorate in moral theology.[1] Following his studies, he held numerous positions including as prefect of discipline at the Major Seminary of Gniezno (1995-1999), rector of the Major Seminary (1999-2003), judge of the Ecclesiastical Court, professor of Moral Theology at the Major Seminary and since 1998 in the Faculty of Theology of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.

On 8 April 2003, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Gniezno and titular bishop of Mons in Numidia by Pope John Paul II and was consecrated on 4 May.[2] He is currently a member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. In 2009 he was elected member of the Permanent Council of the Polish Episcopal Conference and since 2011 he has held the position of Secretary General. In 2013 he was elected Chairman of the Group for the contacts with the Russian Orthodox Church.

Archbishop of Gniezno

On 17 May 2014 Pope Francis appointed Polak the archbishop of Gniezno and, ex officio, primate of Poland, replacing the retiring Archbishop Józef Kowalczyk. He was installed at the Gniezno Cathedral on 7 June 2014.[3]

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Józef Kowalczyk
Archbishop of Gniezno and Primate of Poland
since 17 May 2014
Incumbent

References

  1. 1 2 "Rinunce e nomine". Press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
  2. "Archbishop Wojciech Polak". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  3. Wilgocki, Michał (2014-06-07). "Abp Wojciech Polak objął diecezję gnieźnieńską". Wyborcza.pl. Agora. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
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