Biography
He was born in Bródki to Stanisław and Józefa (née Stawińska) Grocholewski. After studying at the archdiocesan seminary of Poznań, Grocholewski, was ordained to the priesthood on 27 May 1963 by Archbishop Antoni Baraniak, who had also previously ordained him a subdeacon and deacon.
After his 21 December 1982 appointment as titular bishop of Acropolis, he received his episcopal consecration on the following 6 January from John Paul II himself, with Archbishops Eduardo Martínez Somalo and Duraisamy Lourdusamy serving as co-consecrators. Grocholewski was promoted to the rank of Archbishop on 16 December 1991. On 15 November 1999 he was appointed the prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education and the Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Gregorian University.
Grocholewski was created Cardinal-Deacon of San Nicola in Carcere by John Paul II in the consistory of 21 February 2001. Upon the death of Pope John Paul all major Vatican officials automatically lose their positions during a sede vacante, and the cardinal so lost his position on 2 April 2005 due to the death of the Pope. He was later confirmed to office by Pope Benedict XVI on 21 April. He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI. On 21 February 2010, he opted for the order of Cardinal Priest, with his former diaconal church elevated to the level of cardinalitial title.
Along with his native Polish, he speaks Latin, Italian, French, Spanish, and English.
He is a Curial member of the Doctrine of the Faith, Bishops (congregations), the Legislative Texts (council) and the Special Council for Oceania of the Secretariat General (Synod of Bishops) Cardinal Grocholewski was also the official extraordinary envoy of the Pope to the 400th year foundation of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, Manila, the oldest university in the Asia.
Read more about this topic: Zenon Grocholewski
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