Stanisław Ryłko
Stored: Stanisław Ryłko
| His Eminence Stanisław Ryłko | |
| Bishop of College of Cardinals | |
| Home diocese: | Archdiocese of Kraków |
| Other diocese 1: | |
| Other diocese 2: | |
| Other diocese 3: | |
| Ordination: | 30 March 1969 by Cardinal Karol Wojtyła |
| Consecration: | 6 January 1996 by Pope John Paul II |
| Rank: | Cardinal |
| Created cardinal: | 24 November 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI |
| Personal details | |
| Born: | Stanisław Marian Ryłko 4 July 1945 Andrychów, Poland |
| Died: | |
| Nationality: | Poland |
| Education: | Pontifical Gregorian University |
| Motto: | "Lumen fidei" |
| Role: | Emeritus |
| Theology: | Conservative |
| Region: | Central Europe |
| Rite: | Roman Rite |
| Conclave Eligibility: | Eligible |
Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko, born July 4, 1945, is a Polish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, known for his long service in the Roman Curia, notably as President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity from 2003 to 2016, and as Archpriest of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore since 2016. Ordained a priest in 1969 by Cardinal Karol Wojtyła (later Pope John Paul II) for the Archdiocese of Kraków, he was consecrated a bishop in 1996 and elevated to cardinal in 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI. His conservative theology, reflected in his motto "Lumen fidei" ("Light of faith"), emphasizes new evangelization, lay movements, and resistance to secularism, as seen in his 2008 call for Christians to overcome an "inferiority complex" against the secular world. Ryłko participated in the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis but is ineligible for the 2025 conclave following Francis’ death on April 21, 2025, due to his age (79, turning 80 on July 4, 2025), as confirmed by recent analyses and X posts. Despite ineligibility, he was selected during the 2025 general congregation to assist the camerlengo in funeral preparations, highlighting his ongoing Vatican influence.
Ryłko’s career, shaped by his close ties to John Paul II, focused on promoting lay apostolates and World Youth Day, strengthening Catholic identity in a secularizing Europe. His academic background in moral theology and social sciences from the Pontifical Gregorian University informed his pastoral approach. However, his advanced age and lack of diocesan leadership experience diminished his papal candidacy prospects, even before his ineligibility, as noted in recent reports. As an emeritus cardinal, his role in the post-Francis Church is limited to symbolic duties, such as his involvement in 2025 funeral rites, with his legacy tied to his curial service and Polish Catholic heritage.
Biography
Birth and early life
Stanisław Ryłko was born on July 4, 1945, in Andrychów, Poland, to Władysław and Aurelia Ryłko. The youngest of three children, with a brother, Władysław (d. 2007), and a sister, Jadwiga Krasoń, he grew up in a devout Catholic family during Poland’s post-war communist era. His early exposure to the Church’s resilience under oppression sparked a vocation, leading him to enter the Kraków seminary in 1963, where he was mentored by then-Bishop Karol Wojtyła.
Poland’s communist regime shaped Ryłko’s commitment to the Church’s social mission. His intellectual aptitude and fluency in Polish, Italian, English, and German were evident early, as he engaged in parish activities, foreshadowing his curial career. [1] [2]
Education
Ryłko studied philosophy and theology at the Kraków Major Seminary, earning a licentiate in moral theology from the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Kraków in 1971. He pursued advanced studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (1972–1978), obtaining a doctorate in social sciences, focusing on the sociology of religion and lay apostolates.
His education emphasized Vatican II’s call for new evangelization, equipping him to address secularism in Europe. Ryłko’s academic rigor and multilingual proficiency prepared him for Vatican roles, blending theological depth with social analysis. [3] [4]
Priesthood
Ordained a priest on March 30, 1969, by Cardinal Karol Wojtyła in Wawel Cathedral for the Archdiocese of Kraków, Ryłko served as a parish priest in Poronin (1969–1971). He was vice-rector of the Kraków Major Seminary (1978–1987), taught pastoral theology and sociology of religion at the Pontifical Theological Academy, and served as secretary of the Polish Bishops’ Commission for the Lay Apostolate (1979–1987).
His priesthood focused on priestly formation and lay engagement, navigating Poland’s communist constraints. Ryłko’s close ties to Wojtyła and administrative skills positioned him for Vatican service, beginning in 1987. [1] [3]
Bishop
Consecrated titular Bishop of Novica on January 6, 1996, by Pope John Paul II, Ryłko served as secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity (1995–2003) before becoming its president (2003–2016). Elevated to cardinal in 2007 with the title Cardinal-Deacon of Sacro Cuore di Cristo Re (promoted to Cardinal-Priest in 2018), he participated in the 2013 conclave. Appointed Archpriest of Santa Maria Maggiore in 2016, he continues in this role, with Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas named as his successor in 2024.
Ryłko’s curial tenure promoted lay movements and World Youth Day, but his lack of diocesan experience and advanced age limited his papal prospects. Ineligible for the 2025 conclave due to his age (79, turning 80 on July 4, 2025), he assisted in Francis’ funeral preparations, as noted on X, maintaining symbolic influence. [5] [6] [7]
| Diocese | Role | Start Date | End Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titular See of Novica | Bishop | 6 January 1996 | 4 October 2003 | Secretary of Pontifical Council for the Laity |
| Pontifical Council for the Laity | President | 4 October 2003 | 1 September 2016 | Promoted lay movements, World Youth Day |
| Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore | Archpriest | 28 December 2016 | Present | Succeeded by Rolandas Makrickas in 2024 |
Significant events
- Entered Kraków Seminary in 1963.
- Ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Kraków in 1969.
- Consecrated titular Bishop of Novica in 1996.
- Appointed President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity in 2003.
- Elevated to cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007.
- Participated in the 2013 conclave electing Pope Francis.
- Appointed Archpriest of Santa Maria Maggiore in 2016.
- Assisted in Pope Francis’ funeral preparations in 2025.
Books
Written about the bishop
- No known books specifically about Cardinal Ryłko.
Written by the bishop
- No known books authored by Cardinal Ryłko.
External links
- Stanisław Cardinal Ryłko at Catholic-Hierarchy.org
- Biography of Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko at Vatican Press Office
- Vatican News article on Ryłko’s council cessation
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Stanisław Cardinal Ryłko". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. 2025-04-24. https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/brylko.html.
- ↑ "Stanisław Ryłko". Wikipedia. 2007-10-29. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanis%C5%82aw_Ry%C5%82ko.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko". Vatican Press Office. 2025-04-24. https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinals_biographies/cardinal_rylko.html.
- ↑ "H.E. Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko". Pontifical Council for the Laity. https://www.laici.va/content/laici/en/presidente.html.
- ↑ "Pontifical Council for the Laity ceases, succeeded by Dicastery". Vatican News. 2016-09-01. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2016-09/pontifical-council-laity-family-life.html.
- ↑ "14 cardinals will no longer be electors at the end of 2025". Aleteia. 2025-01-03. https://aleteia.org/2025/01/03/14-cardinals-will-no-longer-be-electors-at-the-end-of-2025.
- ↑ "Zgodnie z przepisami, podczas dzisiejszej kongregacji generalnej wylosowano 3 kardynałów". VaticanNewsPL. 2025-04-22. https://t.co/4sWA061d4J.