June 06, 2013: Pope Francis on Wednesday sent a telegram of condolence to Cardinal
Stanislaw Dziwisz, the Archbishop of Krakow, upon learning of the death of Cardinal
Stanislas Nagy.
Cardinal Stanislas Nagy, S.C.I., of the Priests of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus (Dehonians), was born on 30 September 1921 at Bieruń Stary, Archdiocese
of Katowice (Poland). He entered the Congregation of the Dehonian Fathers in 1937.
On 8 July 1945 he was ordained a priest for the Order.
He served as rector
of the Dehonian Fathers' Minor Seminary in Kraków-Płaszów and of the Major Seminary
in Tarnów. He taught at the Catholic University of Lublin where, in 1972, he became
professor.
From 1973 to 1974 he was a member of the Joint Catholic-Lutheran
Commission. He also served as a member of the International Theological Commission
and as director of the Ecumenical Theology section on the editorial staff of the Catholic
Encyclopaedia of the University of Lublin. He took part in the Synods of 1981 and
1985. Concerned with the issue of ecumenism, he has written on the post-conciliar
Church's openness to other Confessions.
He is the author of many books on John
Paul II, with whom he has been a long-time collaborator.
Preconized Cardinal,
he was elected to the titular church of Hólar, with the personal title of Archbishop,
on 7 October 2003 and consecrated on 13 October.
Ceated and proclaimed Cardinal
by John Paul II in the Consistory of 21 October 2003, of the Deaconry of St. Mary
della Scala.
Below, please find the full text of Pope Francis’ telegram of
condolence on the death of Cardinal Stanislas Nagy:
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz Archbishop
of Krakow
On hearing the news of the death of the venerable Cardinal Stanislaw
Nagy, I wish to express to you, to the entire diocesan community, to the family of
the worthy prelate, and to the Congregation of Dehonian Fathers, my heartfelt participation
in their sorrow, remembering with love this dear brother who so generously served
the Gospel and the Church, especially in the academic world, which appreciated a studious
and expert teacher of the theological disciplines. I recall with gratitude his fruitful
collaboration and warm friendship with Blessed John Paul II, and their mutual esteem,
as well as his intense ecumenical activity. I lift up my fervent prayers to the Lord,
that, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin May, He might welcome this His
faithful servant, and a distinguished man of the Church, into joy and peace eternal,
and I gladly impart to all those who mourn his passing, the consoling Apostolic blessing.