Andrzej Maria Deskur (29 February 1924 – 3 September 2011) was President emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and a Cardinal of the Catholic Church.[1]


Andrzej Maria Deskur
President of the Pontifical Academy of the Immaculate Conception
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
Appointed24 January 1987
Term ended3 September 2011
Other post(s)Cardinal-Priest pro hac vice of San Cesareo in Palatio (1996-2011)
Orders
Ordination20 August 1950
by Pierre-Marie Paul Gerlier
Consecration30 June 1974
by Pope Paul VI
Created cardinal25 May 1985
by Pope John Paul II
RankCardinal-Deacon (1985-96)
Cardinal-Priest (1996-2011)
Personal details
Born
Andrzej Maria Michał Deskur

29 February 1924
Died3 September 2011(2011-09-03) (aged 87)
Palazzo San Carlo, Vatican City
BuriedDivine Mercy Sanctuary
ParentsAndrzej Ludwika Deskur
Stanisława Janina z Kosseckich
Previous post(s)Vice-Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Cinema, Radio and Television (1955-59)
Undersecretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Cinema, Radio and Television (1959-64)
Vice-Delegate of Vatican Film Library (1960-70)
Undersecretary of the Pontifical Commission for Social Communications (1964-70)
Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Social Communications (1970-73)
Delegate of the Vatican Film Library (1970-73)
President of the Pontifical Commission for Social Communications (1973-84)
Titular Bishop of Thenæ (1974-80)
Titular Archbishop of Thenæ (1980-85)
Cardinal-Deacon of San Cesareo in Palatio (1985-96)
Alma materJagiellonian University
Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles
Coat of armsAndrzej Maria Deskur's coat of arms
Styles of
Andrzej Maria Deskur
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal
SeeTene (titular see)

Life and career edit

 
The cardinal's tomb in his native Poland.

Deskur was born in Sancygniów, near Kielce, Poland, the son of Stanisława (Kossecka) and Andrzej Deskur.[2] He received a doctorate in law in 1945 from the Jagiellonian University (study underground). He was the secretary general of the Polish student organization "Bratniak". He entered the seminary in Kraków and was ordained a priest on 20 August 1950. He obtained a doctorate in theology from the University of Freiburg and, after two years of pastoral activity and study in France and Switzerland, in September 1952, he was called to Rome to work in the Secretariat of State. During this period he served as undersecretary of the Pontifical Commission for Cinematography, Radio and Television (1954–1964), secretary of the Preparatory Secretariat for the Press and Entertainment during Vatican II (1960–1962), peritus for the assembly of the council (1962–1965) and was a member of the Conciliar Commissions for Bishops, for the Clergy, for the Laity, and for the Press and Entertainment.[1]

In 1973 he was named president of the Pontifical Commission (now Council) for Social Communications.[1] He was appointed titular bishop of Tene on 17 June 1974 and received episcopal ordination the following 30 June. On 15 February 1980, John Paul II named him Archbishop and president emeritus of the Pontifical Commission.

Deskur was raised to the Cardinalate on 25 May 1985, becoming Cardinal-Deacon of San Cesareo in Palatio, that had belonged to Pope John Paul II himself until his elevation to the Papacy. After ten years as a Cardinal-Deacon he exercised his right and his titular church was elevated and he became Cardinal-Priest. Cardinal Deskur lost the right to participate in the conclave when he turned 80 years old in 2004.

Deskur contributed to numerous congresses and meetings for professionals of the press, radio, television and cinema, visiting about 70 countries on five continents. Among other endeavours, he was one of the promoters of the radio station "Radio Veritas" for countries in Asia and Oceania.

The challenge of promoting Christianity in the field of social communications did not impede Cardinal Deskur from dedicating himself also to pastoral activity. During all his years in Rome he performed his priestly and episcopal ministry in numerous parishes. For many years he devoted himself to the office of spiritual director at the pre-seminary St. Pius V.

He was President of the Pontifical Academy of the Immaculate Conception.

Curial membership:

Deskur died on 3 September 2011, aged 87.[3] He was buried at the St. John Paul II Center, Krakow, Poland.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Prokop, Krzysztof Rafał, in Salvador Miranda, The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, Andrzej Maria Deskur
  2. ^ "Andrzej Maria Deskur h. Góra Złotoskalista".
  3. ^ Vatican Information Service Archived September 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine

Sources edit