Andrzej Maria Deskur
{{Infobox Christian leader
|type = Cardinal
|honorific_prefix = His Eminence
|name = Andrzej Maria Deskur
|title = President of the Pontifical Academy of the Immaculate Conception
|church = Roman Catholic Church
|appointed = 24 January 1987
|term_end = 3 September 2011
|other_post = Cardinal-Priest pro hac vice of San Cesareo in Palatio (1996-2011)
|ordination = 20 August 1950
|ordained_by = Pierre-Marie Paul Gerlier
|consecration = 30 June 1974
|consecrated_by = Pope Paul VI
|cardinal = 25 May 1985
|created_cardinal_by = Pope John Paul II
|rank = Cardinal-Deacon (1985-96)
Cardinal-Priest (1996-2011)
|birth_name = Andrzej Maria Michał Deskur
|birth_date = 29 February 1924
|birth_place = Deskur Palace, Sancygniów, Gmina Działoszyce, Pińczów, Świętokrzyskie, Second Polish Republic
|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2011|09|03|1924|02|29}}
|death_place = Palazzo San Carlo, Vatican City
|buried = Divine Mercy Sanctuary
|parents = Andrzej Ludwika Deskur
Stanisława Janina z Kosseckich
|previous_post = 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_mater = Jagiellonian University
Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles
|coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Andrzej Maria Deskur.svg }}
{{infobox cardinalstyles|
cardinal name=Andrzej Maria Deskur|
dipstyle=His Eminence|
offstyle=Your Eminence|
See=Tene (titular see)|
image=Coat of arms of Andrzej Maria Deskur.svg|
image_size = | }}
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.Prokop, Krzysztof Rafał, in Salvador Miranda, [http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios-d.htm#Deskur The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, Andrzej Maria Deskur] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000902000629/http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios-d.htm#Deskur |date=2000-09-02 }}
Life and career
File:Sarkfoag of Cardinal Andrzej Maria Deskur in John Paul II Center "Be not afraid".JPG
Deskur was born in Sancygniów, near Kielce, Poland, the son of Stanisława (Kossecka) and Andrzej Deskur.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sejm-wielki.pl/b/zi.7.9.a2|title = Andrzej Maria Deskur h. Góra Złotoskalista}} 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.
In 1973 he was named president of the Pontifical Commission (now Council) for Social Communications. 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:
- Causes of Saints, Divine Worship and Sacraments (congregations)
- Health Care Workers (council)
- Vatican City State (commission)
Deskur died on 3 September 2011, aged 87.[http://press.catholica.va/news_services/press/vis/dinamiche/a2_en.htm Vatican Information Service] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930235750/http://press.catholica.va/news_services/press/vis/dinamiche/a2_en.htm |date=September 30, 2011 }} He was buried at the St. John Paul II Center, Krakow, Poland.
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
- [http://www.deskur.org/ks_kard_deskur_en%200.htm Official website of the Association of the Deskur Family "SRD"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801194616/http://www.deskur.org/ks_kard_deskur_en%200.htm |date=2018-08-01 }}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Deskur, Andrzej Maria}}
Category:Polish Roman Catholic titular bishops
Category:Participants in the Second Vatican Council
Category:20th-century Polish cardinals
Category:Members of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications
Category:Cardinals created by Pope John Paul II
Category:21st-century Polish cardinals
Category:Recipients of the Order of the White Eagle (Poland)
Category:Polish expatriates in Germany
Category:Polish expatriates in France
Category:Polish expatriates in Switzerland