Adrian Galbas Appointed as New Warsaw Archbishop

The news in Polish

1. arcybiskup (m.)
   Duchowny, który stoi na czele archidiecezji. ↩︎
2. rezygnacja (f.)
   Akt złożenia urzędu lub stanowiska. ↩︎
3. kardynał (m.)
   Wysokiej rangi duchowny w Kościele katolickim, który jest zwykle członkiem Kolegium Kardynalskiego. ↩︎
4. arcybiskup (m.)
   Duchowny, który stoi na czele archidiecezji. ↩︎
5. papież (m.)
   Głowa Kościoła katolickiego. ↩︎
6. stanowisko (n.)
   Funkcja lub miejsce zatrudnienia. ↩︎
7. podkreślać
   Zwrócić na coś szczególną uwagę. ↩︎

Translation

Text Comprehension

Question: Who was the previous archbishop of Warsaw before Adrian Galbas?

Question: What was Adrian Galbas known for before becoming the new Warsaw Archbishop?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
arcybiskup (m.)	archbishop
rezygnacja (f.)	resignation
kardynał (m.)	cardinal
papież (m.)	pope
stanowisko (n.)	position
podkreślać	emphasise

Read the full story

The transition marks a significant change in the Polish Catholic Church. Galbas, born in 1968 in Bytom, took his perpetual vows in 1993 and was ordained the following year. He received his episcopal consecration in 2020. Before his recent appointment, he was named the Coadjutor Archbishop of Katowice by Pope Francis in December 2021 and became the Archbishop of Katowice in May 2023.

Cardinal Nycz’s resignation, driven by health issues, came earlier than expected, as he hadn’t yet reached the traditional retirement age for bishops. Nycz had suffered a health scare in April 2021, leading to a period of recovery and hinting at his eventual step down from his position.

Galbas’s appointment comes amidst challenges within the Church related to selecting suitable successors, a problem highlighted by similar delays in other key archdioceses such as Krakow and Poznan. His leadership in Katowice was viewed as pivotal, given the diocese’s previously troubled history concerning issues of abuse. Known for his straightforward approach, Galbas has openly discussed these challenges in his homilies.

The change in leadership leaves the Katowice Archdiocese temporarily under his administrative control until his canonic assumption of the Warsaw Archdiocese. Following this, a new administrator will be appointed by the College of Consultors in Katowice.

Galbas’s new role in Warsaw is seen both as a challenge and an opportunity. Analysts suggest it could refocus the Polish Church under a potentially new leadership dynamic that aligns more closely with Pope Francis’s vision of decentralisation and strengthening local communities.

Pope Francis’s choice reflects a move away from the more centrally aligned figures in the Church, suggesting an effort to lay a path for reformative leadership in Poland. How Galbas will leverage this opportunity remains to be seen, but his past tenure indicates a leader unafraid to tackle difficult issues head-on and align with modern Church values.

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