Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wrocław

Archdiocese of Wrocław Archidioecesis Vratislaviensis Archidiecezja Wrocławska
Cathedral of St. John in Wrocław, centre of the archdiocese
Location
Country	Poland
Ecclesiastical province	Ecclesiastical province of Wrocław
Statistics
Area	8,850 km2 (3,420 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2020) 1,203,873 999,214 (83%)
Information
Denomination	Catholic Church
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	10th Century (As Diocese of Wrocław) 13 August 1930 (As Archdiocese of Wrocław)
Cathedral	Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Wrocław
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Metropolitan Archbishop	Józef Kupny
Suffragans	Diocese of Legnica Diocese of Świdnica
Auxiliary Bishops	Jacek Kiciński CMF Maciej Małyga
Map
Website
archidiecezja.wroc.pl

The Archdiocese of Wrocław (

. Between 1821 and 1972 it was officially known as (Arch)Diocese of Breslau.

History

Medieval era (within Poland)

Christianity was first introduced into

.

Duke

, 9 August 1245.

The powerful Polish ruler Bolesław I was succeeded by his son

(1146–49), who became Archbishop of Gniezno.

With the episcopate of Bishop Walter (1149–69) the history of the diocese of Wrocław begins to grow clearer. Pope Adrian IV, at Walter's request in 1155, took the bishopric under his protection and confirmed to it the territorial possessions of which a list had been submitted to him. Among the rights which the Pope then confirmed was that of jurisdiction over the lands belonging to the castle of Otmuchów, which had been regarded as the patrimony of the diocese from its foundation. In 1163 the sons of the exiled Polish duke Władysław returned from the Empire and, through the intervention of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, received as an independent duchy the part of Silesia which was included at that date in the see of Wrocław. Bishop Walter built a new, massively constructed cathedral, in which he was buried. Żyrosław II (1170–98) encouraged the founding of the Cistercian monastery of Lubusz by Duke Bolesław I the Tall. In 1180 Żyrosław took part in the national assembly at Łęczyca at which laws for the protection of the Church and its property were promulgated. Jarosław (1198–1201), the oldest son of Duke Bolesław, and Duke of Opole, was the first prince to become Bishop of Wrocław (see prince-bishop).

Cyprian (1201–7) was originally Abbot of the

, on the large estates that had been granted them. One of the most noted bishops of the diocese, Tomasz I (1232–68), continued the work of German colonization with so much energy that even the

Archbishop of Salzburg

, was Administrator of the Diocese of Wrocław until his death in 1270.

He was followed by Tomasz II Zaremba (1270–92), who was involved for years in a violent dispute with Duke

. His maintenance of the prerogatives of the Church brought him, also, into conflict with the temporal rulers of Silesia; in 1296 he called a synod for the defence of these rights.

In the election of

to Wrocław (1326–41).

Within Bohemia and the Habsburg Monarchy

The constant division and subdivision of Silesian territory into small principalities for the members of the ruling families resulted in a condition of weakness that resulted in dependence on a stronger neighbour, and parts of Silesia thus came under the control of Bohemia (first between 1289 and 1306; definitely from 1327 onwards), which itself was part of the

, where he died.

Przecław of Pogorzela (1341–1376) was elected bishop while pursuing his studies at Bologna, and was consecrated bishop at Avignon. Through his friendship with Charles, the son of King John, he was soon able to settle the discord that had arisen under his predecessor. The diocese prospered greatly under his rule. He bought the Duchy of Grodków from Duke Bolesław III the Generous and added it to the episcopal territory of Nysa. The Bishops of Wrocław had, therefore, after this the titles of Prince of Nysa and Duke of Grodków, and took precedence over the other Silesian rulers who held principalities in fief.

Emperor

, was transferred to Wrocław (1382–1417). The new bishop devoted himself to repairing the damage inflicted on the Church in Silesia by the actions of Charles. He held two synods, in 1410 and 1415, with the object of securing a higher standard of ecclesiastical discipline; and he settled the right of inheritance in the territory under his dominion by promulgating the church decree called "Wenceslaus' law". Resigning his bishopric in 1417, Wenceslaus died in 1419.

The episcopate of

] The troubles of the times brought the bishop and the diocese into serious pecuniary difficulties, and in 1444 Konrad resigned, but his resignation was not accepted and he resumed his office. In 1446 he held a diocesan synod and died in the following year.

Konrad's successor was the provost of the cathedral of Wrocław, Peter II Nowak (1447–56). By wise economy Bishop Peter succeeded in bringing the diocesan finances into a better condition and in redeeming the greater part of the church lands which his predecessor had been obliged to mortgage. At the diocesan synod of 1454 he endeavoured to suppress the abuses that had arisen in the diocese.

, after he had confirmed their privileges. From this time these privileges were called "the Rudolfian statutes". Under his leadership the party opposed to Podebrady obtained the victory, and Rudolf proceeded at once to repair the damage which had been occasioned to the Church during this strife; mortgaged church lands were redeemed; in 1473 and 1475 diocesan synods were held, at which the bishop took active measures in regard to church discipline.

As coadjutor, he had selected a

castle, later the summer residence of the Prince-Bishop of Breslau.

The religious disturbances of the 16th century began to be conspicuously apparent during this episcopate, and soon after John's death Protestantism began to spread in Silesia, which belonged to the

, were not in a position to enforce the edicts which they issued for the protection of the Church.

The Silesian clergy had in great measure lost their high concept of the priestly office, although there were honourable exceptions. Among those faithful were the majority of the canons of the cathedral of Breslau; they distinguished themselves not only by their learning, but also by their religious zeal. It was in the main due to them that the diocese did not fall into spiritual ruin. The chapter was the willing assistant of the bishops in the reform of the diocese. Martin of Gerstmann (1574–85) began the renovation of the diocese, and the special means by which he hoped to attain the desired end were: the founding of a seminary for clerics, visitations of the diocese, diocesan synods, and the introduction of the Jesuits.

His successor, Andreas von Jerin (1585–96), a Swabian who had educated at the German College at Rome, followed in his footsteps. At the diocesan synod of 1592 he endeavoured to improve church discipline. Besides his zeal in elevating the life of the Church, he was also a promoter of the arts and learning. The silver altar with which he adorned his cathedral still exists, and he brought the schools in the principality of Neisse into a flourishing condition. The bishop also rendered important services to the emperor, as legate at various times.

Bonaventura Hahn, elected in 1596 as the successor of Andreas von Jerin, was not recognized by the emperor and was obliged to resign his position. The candidate of the emperor, Paul Albert (1599–1600), occupied the see only one year. Johann VI (1600–8), a member of a noble family of Silesia named von Sitsch, took more severe measures than his predecessors against Protestantism, in the hope of checking it, especially in the episcopal principality of Neisse-Grottkau.

Bishop Charles (1608–24), an Archduke of Austria, had greater success than his predecessor after the first period of the Thirty Years' War had taken a turn favourable to Austria and the Catholic party. Charles wanted to move under protection of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, hoping to avoid participation in the war which was ravaging the Holy Roman Empire. As Charles's bishopric was nominally subordinated to the Polish Archbishopric of Gniezno, he asked the Archbishop of Gniezno for mediation in talks with King Sigismund III Vasa of Poland about protection and subordination of his bishopric. In May 1619, Prince Władysław (the future King Władysław IV Vasa), invited by his uncle Charles, left Warsaw and started a trip to Silesia. During talks with Władysław in mid-1619, the Habsburgs promised to agree to a temporary occupation of part of Silesia by Polish forces, which the unsuccessfully Vasas hoped would later allow the re-incorporation of those areas into Poland.

In July 1619 Czech Protestants rebelled against King

(1620) broke the revolt in Bohemian Crown (i.e. including the opposition of the Protestants of Silesia). The Bishopric of Breslau (Wrocław) returned to the rule of the Archbishopric of Gniezno in 1620, having before been practically independent. Bishop Charles began the restoration of the principality of Neisse (Nysa) to the Catholic faith. The work was completed by his successor, Charles Ferdinand, Prince of Poland (1625–55), who spent most of his time in his own country, but appointed excellent administrators for the diocese, such as the Coadjutor-Bishop Liesch von Hornau, and Archdeacon Gebauer. Imperial commissioners gave back to the Catholic Church those church buildings in the chief places of the principalities which had become the property of the sovereign through the extinction of vassal families. Until 1632 de facto rule was held in Warsaw by King Sigismund III and not by the bishop or archbishop.

According to the terms of the 1648

and administrator of the diocese under the bishops Archduke Leopold Wilhelm (1656–62) and Archduke Charles Joseph (1663–64), neither of whom lived in the territory of Breslau. After Sebastian of Rostock became bishop (1664–71) he carried on the work of reorganization with still greater success than before.

. He was buried in a beautiful chapel which he had added to the cathedral in honour of his ancestress, St. Elizabeth of Thuringia.

After his death the chapter presented Carl von Liechtenstein, Bishop of Olomouc, for confirmation. Their choice was opposed by the emperor, whose candidate was the

endeavoured to repair the loss of these buildings to the Catholic faith by founding the so-called Josephine vicarships.

Within Prussia and the German Empire (main part) and the Bohemian Lands of Austria and Austria-Hungary (lesser part)

Frederick II of Prussia desired to erect a "Catholic Vicariate" at Berlin, to be the highest spiritual authority for the Catholics of Prussia. This would have been in reality a separation from Rome, and the project failed through the opposition of the Holy See. Bishop Sinzendorf had neither the acuteness to perceive the inimical intent of the king's scheme, nor sufficient decision of character to withstand it. The king desired to secure a successor to Sinzendorf who would be under royal influence. In utter disregard of the principles of the Church, and heedless of the protests of the cathedral chapter, he presented Count Philipp Gotthard von Schaffgotsch

as coadjutor-bishop.

After the death of Cardinal Sinzendorf the king succeeded in the placement of Schaffgotsch as Bishop of Breslau (1748–95). Although the method of his elevation caused the new bishop to be regarded with suspicion by many strict Catholics, he was zealous in the fulfilment of his duties. During the

vicars Apostolic

.

The former coadjutor of von Schaffgotsch, Joseph Christian, Prince von Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein (1795–1817), succeeded him as bishop. During his episcopate the temporal power of the Bishops of Breslau came to an end through the secularization, in 1810, of the church estates in Prussian Silesia – only the estates in Austrian Silesia remained to the see. The cathedral foundation, eight collegiate foundations, and over eighty monasteries were suppressed, and their property confiscated. Only those monastic institutions which were occupied with teaching or nursing were allowed to exist.

Bishop Joseph Christian was succeeded by his coadjutor, Emmanuel von Schimonsky. The affairs of the Catholic Church in Prussia had been brought into order by the Bull "De salute animarum", issued in 1821. Under its provisions the cathedral chapter elected Schimonsky, who had been administrator of the diocese, as Prince-Bishop of Breslau (1824–1832).

The bull disentangled Breslau diocese from Gniezno ecclesiastical province and made Breslau an

Apostolic Prefecture of Meissen in Lower Lusatia (politically part of Prussian Brandenburg since 1815^[1]) and eastern Upper Lusatia

(to Silesia province as of 1815) to Breslau diocese.

With the exception of the districts of Bütow (

Prince-Episcopal Delegation for Brandenburg and Pomerania

.

Schimonsky retained for himself and his successors the title of prince-bishop, although the episcopal rule in the Principality of Neisse had ended by its secularization. However, the rank of prince-bishop later included the

Austrian House of Lords

(since 1861).

Schimonsky combatted the rationalistic tendencies which were rife among his clergy in regard to celibacy and the use of Latin in the church services and ceremonies. During the episcopate of his predecessor the government had promulgated a law which was a source of much trouble to Schimonsky and his immediate successors; this was that in those places where Catholics were few in number, the parish should be declared extinct and the church buildings given to the newly founded

Evangelical Church in Prussia. In spite of the protests of the episcopal authorities, over one hundred church buildings were lost in this way. King Frederick William III of Prussia

put an end to this injustice, and sought to make good the injuries inflicted.

For several years after Schimonsky's death the see remained vacant. It was eventually filled by the election, through government influence, of Count Leopold von Sedlnitzky (1836–40). Prince-Bishop von Sedlnitzky was neither clear nor firm in his maintenance of the doctrines of the Church; on the question of mixed marriages, which had become one of great importance, he took an undecided position. At last, upon the demand of Pope Gregory XVI, he resigned his see in 1840. He went afterwards to Berlin, where he was made a privy-councillor, and where he became a Protestant in 1862. In 1871 he died in Berlin and was buried in the Protestant cemetery in Rankau (today's Ręków, a part of Sobótka).

The dean of the cathedral, Dr. Ritter, administered the diocese for several years until the election of Joseph Knauer (1843–44), earlier Grand Dean of the Silesian County of Glatz within the Diocese of Hradec Králové. The new prince-bishop, who was 79 years old, lived only a year after his appointment.

His successor was Melchior, Freiherr von Diepenbrock (1845–53). This episcopate was the beginning of a new religious and ecclesiastical life in the diocese. During the revolutionary period the prince-bishop not only maintained order in his see, which was in a state of ferment, but was also a supporter of the government. He received unusual honours from the king and was made a cardinal by the Pope. He died 20 January 1853, at the Johannisberg (Jánský Vrch) castle and was buried in the Breslau cathedral.

His successor, Heinrich Förster (1853–81), carried on his work and completed it. Prince-Bishop Förster gave generous aid to the founding of churches, monastic institutions, and schools. The strife that arose between the Church and the State brought his labours in the Prussian part of his diocese to an end. He was deposed by the State and was obliged to leave Breslau and retire to the Austrian Silesian castle of Johannisberg where he died, 20 October 1881; he was buried in the cathedral at Breslau.

Pope Leo XIII appointed as his successor in the disordered diocese Robert Herzog (1882–86), who had been Prince-Episcopal Delegate for Brandenburg and Pomerania and provost of St. Hedwig's in Berlin. Prince-Bishop Herzog made every endeavour to bring order out of the confusion into which the quarrel with the State during the immediately preceding years had thrown the affairs of the diocese. His episcopate was but of short duration; he died after a long illness, 26 December 1886.

The Holy See appointed as his successor a man who had done much to allay the strife between Church and State, the

Bishop of Fulda, Georg Kopp. He was transferred from Fulda

to Breslau and installed 20 October 1887; later created a cardinal (1893).

According to the census of 1 December 1905, the German part of Breslau diocesan area, including the prince-episcopal delegation, comprised 3,342,221 Catholics; 8,737,746 Protestants; and 204,749 Jews. It was the richest German diocese in revenues and

offertories

. There were actively employed in the diocese 1,632 secular and 121 regular, priests. The cathedral chapter included the two offices of provost and dean, and had 10 regular, and 6 honorary, canons.

The prince-bishopric was divided into 11 commissariates and 99

Schlesische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität in Breslau, the diocese possessed, as episcopal institutions for the training of the clergy, 5 preparatory seminaries for boys, 1 home (recently much enlarged) for theological students attending the university, and 1 seminary

for priests in Breslau. The statistics of the houses of the religious orders in the dioceses were as follows:

Benedictines, 1 house Dominicans, 1 Franciscans, 8 Jesuits, 3 Piarists, 1 Brothers of Mercy, 8 Order of St. Camillus of Lellis , 1 Redemptorists, 1 Congregation of the Society of the Divine Word , 1 Alexian Brothers , 1 Poor Brothers of St. Francis , 2 Sisters of St. Elizabeth , 6 Magdalen Sisters, 1 Ursulines, 6 Sisters of the Good Shepherd , 4

Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo , (a) from the mother-house at Trebnitz, 181, (b) from the mother-house at Trier, 5 Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 2 Sisters of Poor Handmaids of Christ, 3 Sister-Servants of Mary, 27 German Dominican Sisters of St. Catharine of Siena, 11 Sisters of St. Francis, 9 Grey Sisters of St. Elizabeth, 169 Sisters of St. Hedwig, 9 Sisters of Mary, 27 Poor School-Sisters of Notre Dame, 15 Vincentian Sisters, 7 Sisters of the Holy Cross, 1 Sisters of St. Joseph, 1

In the above-mentioned monastic houses for men there were 512 religious; in those for women, 5,208 religious.

Within the Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany, Czechoslovakia and the Second Polish Republic

After

Neurode; Olomouc archdiocese: Branitz, Katscher, Leobschütz and Owschütz

). So also the Roman Catholic parishes in Czechoslovakian Těšín Silesia remained part of Breslau diocese.

Following the

Kraków

, by the papal Bull Vixdum Poloniae Unitas.

According to the Prussian

Territorial Prelature of Schneidemühl

(Piła).

Within Poland (main part), Czechoslovakia and East Germany (lesser parts)

After World War II, the city of Breslau became again part of Poland under its historic Polish name Wrocław. On 21 June 1945, the Archbishop, Cardinal Adolf Bertram, while staying in the episcopal castle of Jánský Vrch in Czechoslovak Javorník, appointed František Onderek (1888–1962) as vicar general for the Czechoslovak part of the archdiocese. Bertram died on 6 July 1945 in Jánský Vrch castle in Czechoslovakia, supposedly due to the Polish demands upon him (an ethnic German, who, however, had pleaded for German-Polish reconciliation during the time of Piłsudski's rule). Expelled, deported, German ex-Silesians from West Germany have since ca. 1946 entertained claims that Bertram was actually killed or brought near to death by Polish "imperialists" inside the Catholic Church of Poland.^{[citation needed]}

On 16 July 1945 the archdiocesan

Oder-Neisse line

, claiming to act on the authority of papal mandates, however, only applying to the pre-war territory of Poland.

So Piontek – not knowing of the restricted mandate – resigned for the Polish-held parts of the Archdiocese, but not for the remaining parts in Czechoslovakia and Allied occupied Germany. Hlond divided the Polish-held area of the ecclesiastical province into four apostolic administrations of Gorzów Wielkopolski, Olsztyn, Opole, and Wrocław proper and appointed a diocesan administrator for each of them on 15 August, with effect of 1 September. Capitular Vicar Piontek confirmed Onderek on 18 August 1945 as vicar general for the Czechoslovakian part of the archdiocese.^[3] Piontek was asked to help Karol Milik, the new administrator in Wrocław, and stayed. He could also take care of the Catholic clergy and laymen of German language, who were in the course of expulsion in accordance to the Potsdam Agreement by the Soviet-installed communist authorities.

diocese of Berlin

, except for its areas east of the Oder-Neisse line. However, the territory of the other suffragans and the Territorial Prelature of Schneidemühl/Piła had come under Polish or Soviet rule.

In 1947 Piontek returned to the archdiocesan territory west of the Oder-Neisse line (then part of

crosier and bestow episcopal blessings. On 23 May 1959 Piontek became titular bishop of Barca

.

The Holy See refused to acknowledge Polish Catholic Church claims, however, and only appointed auxiliary bishops to the Archdiocese of

Fulda Conference

of Catholic Bishops inside Germany of the borders of 31 December 1937. In 1951, the Holy See appointed Teodor Bensch (1903–1958), titular bishop of Tabuda, as auxiliary bishop of Breslau, also responsible for the Polish part of the diocese of Berlin.

Within Poland since 1972

On 28 June 1972, however, – in response to West Germany's change in

Koszalin-Kołobrzeg; the Warmia changing as suffragan into the Archdiocese of Warsaw

.

The remaining archdiocesan territory, enlarged by the

Nowa Ruda, and Polanica-Zdrój, heretofore part of Hradec Králové diocese), became the new Archdiocese of Wrocław and a member of the Polish Episcopal Conference. So Bolesław Kominek was appointed to the archiepiscopal see, becoming its first Polish bishop since Leopold Graf Sedlnitzky Choltitz von Odrowąż, a Polish-Austrian nobleman, who had resigned from the see in 1840. In 1978, the Apostolic Administration of the Czech Silesian archdiocesan area was incorporated into the Archdiocese of Olomouc.^[6] Since 1996 the area of the former Apostolic Administration forms the bulk of the new Roman Catholic Diocese of Ostrava-Opava

, a suffragan of Olomouc.

The expelled German priests and German Silesian laypeople from the now Polish part of the original Archdiocese of Breslau were granted the privilege of an

Heimatvertriebene from Silesia, in West Germany, their new home. The first apostolic visitator was Hubert Thienel, the present and second visitator is Winfried König.^[7]

On November 6, 2020, The Holy See's nuncio to Poland announced that following a Vatican investigation regarding sex abuse allegations, prominent Cardinal Henryk Gulbinowicz, the former Archbishop of Wroclaw whose support of the trade union Solidarity played a critical role in the collapse of communism in Poland,^[8] was now "barred from any kind of celebration or public meeting and from using his episcopal insignia, and is deprived of the right to a cathedral funeral and burial."^[9] Gulbinowicz was also ordered to pay an "appropriate sum" to his alleged victims.^[9] On November 16, 2020, 10 days after the Vatican action, Gulbinowicz died, but, as a result of the Vatican disciplinary action, could not have a funeral in Wroclaw's Cathedral of St. John the Baptist or be buried in the cathedral.^[10]

Suffragan dioceses

Present suffragans

• Diocese of Legnica (since 1992)
• Diocese of Świdnica (since 2004)

Former suffragans within Wrocław ecclesiastical province

• Diocese of Gorzów
  (1972–1992)
• Diocese of Opole
  (1972–1992)

Former suffragans within the Eastern German ecclesiastical province

In 1930 the see was elevated to the rank of archdiocese and three suffragans were subordinated to its jurisdiction, forming together with Breslau's own territory the

Eastern German Ecclesiastical Province

.

• Diocese of Berlin
  (1930–1972)
• Diocese of Ermland/Warmia (1930–1972)
• Roman Catholic Territorial Prelature of Schneidemühl/Piła (1930–1972)

See also

• List of bishops of Wrocław

Notes

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Breslau". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

1. ^ This included – among others – Cottbus, Crossen, Guben, Neuzelle, Schwiebus and Züllichau etc.
2. ^ "Bundesarchiv - Research". archive.is. 2 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
3. ^
   ISBN 978-3-412-20143-2
4. ^ Biographisches Handbuch der Tschechoslowakei, Heinrich Kuhn and Otto Böss (compilators), Munich: Lerche, 1961, (=Veröffentlichungen des Collegium Carolinum), p. 115
5. ^ Paulus VI: Const. Apost. "Vratislaviensis – Berolinensis et aliarum", in: Acta Apostolicae Sedis, 64 (1972), n. 10, pp. 657seq.
6. ^ Emil Valasek, "Veränderungen der Diözesangrenzen in der Tschechoslowakei seit 1918", in: Archiv für Kirchengeschichte von Böhmen – Mähren – Schlesien, vol. 6 (1982), pp. 289–296, here p. 292.
7. ^ Apostolischer Visitator Archived 30 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
8. ^ "Vatican imposes disciplinary measures on 97-year-old Polish cardinal".
9. ^ ^{a b} "UPDATE: Banned Polish cardinal unconscious in hospital". 6 November 2020. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020.
10. ^ Mares, Courtney (16 November 2020). "Cardinal Gulbinowicz dies ten days after Vatican sanctions". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 31 December 2020.

External links

• Archdiocese website (in Polish)
• Catholic-Hierarchy.org

51°06′51″N 17°02′48″E / 51.114174°N 17.046581°E / 51.114174; 17.046581