Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, Pope St. John Paul II’s former long serving personal secretary and Archbishop Emeritus of Krakow, remains an influential figure in the Church, especially in his native Poland, and noted for his work in interfaith relations.

In his later years Dziwisz was accused of involvement in a number of alleged scandals, all of which he denies. The Vatican cleared him of mishandling abuse cases as Archbishop of Krakow.

Born on April 27, 1939, in Raba Wyżna, Poland, he was ordained as a priest on June 23, 1963, by then-Auxiliary Bishop of Krakow, Karol Wojtyła, who would later become Pope John Paul II.

Dziwisz’s ecclesiastical career began with his appointment as a parochial vicar. In October 1966, Archbishop Wojtyła named him as his chaplain and secretary, marking the beginning of a long and influential relationship. When Wojtyła was elected Pope in 1978, Dziwisz became his personal secretary, a position he held throughout John Paul II’s 27-year pontificate.

Throughout his career, Dziwisz continued his theological studies, earning a licentiate in theology in 1967 and a doctorate in 1981 from the Faculty of Theology of Krakow. He also served as a professor of liturgy at the Superior Catechetical Institute in Krakow and held various positions within the archdiocese.

On February 7, 1998, Dziwisz was appointed titular Bishop of San Leone and Adjunct Prefect of the Pontifical Household. He was consecrated as a bishop by John Paul II on March 19, 1998. His ecclesiastical rank was further elevated when he was appointed titular Archbishop of San Leone on September 29, 2003.

Following the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005, Dziwisz’s career took a significant turn when Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Krakow. The appointment was followed by his elevation to the rank of cardinal on March 24, 2006, with the title of Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria del Popolo.

As Archbishop of Krakow, Dziwisz played a crucial role in the “fast-tracking” of John Paul II’s beatification process after he initiated the diocesan inquiry into his heroic virtues on November 4, 2005.

Dziwisz participated in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis. He initially appeared critical of Benedict XVI’s resignation, saying: “You don’t step down from Christ’s cross,” but later said he accepted Benedict’s decision with “great respect and emotion” and that he understood the reasons for the Holy Father’s choice.

His tenure as Archbishop of Krakow concluded on December 8, 2016, when Pope Francis accepted his resignation upon reaching the age limit. Throughout his career, Dziwisz has been recognized for his contributions to interfaith relations.

Cardinal Dziwisz has been associated with several notable controversies and scandals, all of which he denies. In 2020, Dziwisz was accused of receiving large sums of money from the Legion of Christ. He allegedly accepted up to $50,000 for allowing wealthy donors access to papal masses at the Apostolic Palace, a practice described as an “elegant way of giving bribes.”

In the same year, an investigation by Polish broadcaster TVN24 accused Dziwisz of ignoring cases of sexual abuse in the Catholic ChurchPolish priest, Father Tadeusz Isakowicz-Zaleski, claimed he personally handed documents detailing abuse cases to Dziwisz in 2012, but Dziwisz denied receiving them. This led to calls for an independent commission to investigate the matter.

In April 2022, a Vatican investigation cleared Dziwisz of wrongdoing regarding his handling of sex abuse claims during his time as Archbishop of Krakow (2005-2016). The investigation did not cover his tenure as John Paul II’s secretary at the Vatican, however.

Dziwisz was also implicated in the case of Theodore McCarrick, a former cardinal accused of sexual abuse. It was alleged that Dziwisz received envelopes containing thousands of dollars from McCarrick. The Vatican report on McCarrick raised questions about Dziwisz’s role in McCarrick’s appointment as Archbishop of Washington, D.C., despite evidence of McCarrick’s sexual misconduct.

Dziwisz has consistently maintained his innocence and welcomed investigations into the allegations against him. He stated, “I think that the Polish society has never believed these accusations” and expressed relief that the accusations cannot be used to impugn the legacy of Pope John Paul II.

He also acknowledged the pain caused by the abuse allegations, stating, “I assure everyone of my remembrance in prayer” and expressing hope that the Vatican’s decision to clear him of wrongdoing would help restore peace of mind to those affected by the accusations.