List of Polish cardinals


s are senior ecclesiastical leaders of the Catholic Church, almost always ordained bishops and generally holding important roles within the church, such as governing prominent archdioceses or managing dicasteries within the Roman Curia. They are created in consistories by the pope and one of their foremost duties is the election of a new pope when the Holy See is vacant, following the death or the resignation of the reigning pontiff. The body of all cardinals is collectively known as the College of Cardinals.
This list includes all ethnic Poles, living and deceased, who were raised to the rank of cardinal, including those who were born or carried out their pastoral services outside Poland, such as Cardinal Kazimierz Świątek who was born in Estonia and worked as a bishop in Belarus. People of other ethnic origins who were naturalized in Poland, such as the 17th-century Hungarian-born Cardinal Báthory Endre, are not included.
Three of the Polish cardinals, namely Fryderyk Jagiellończyk, Jan Olbracht Waza and Jan Kazimierz Waza, were of royal blood. The latter was elected king of Poland after he had renounced his cardinalate. Karol Wojtyła was the only Polish cardinal to be elected pope. As Pope John Paul II, he elevated ten of his compatriots to cardinalate, the largest number of Polish cardinals created by a single pope.
Roughly one out of two Polish cardinals was a bishop of one of Poland's historically two most important episcopal sees: Gniezno, the capital city of Poland until 1034, and Kraków, Poland's capital from 1038 to 1596. All bishops of Kraków since 1890, as well as all primates of Poland, since 1919 have been created cardinals.
Cardinals are sorted in chronological order by date of elevation to cardinalate, indicated in the Elevated column. Cardinals elevated during the same century are marked by the same color on the bar on the left-hand side of the table. The date of elevation is the date of the consistory during which a given person was officially proclaimed cardinal by the pope. In some cases, especially in former times, a cardinal may have received the red hat after the consistory or never. Those, whose elevation was intended by a pope, but died before the consistory, as well as pseudocardinals elevated by antipopes, are listed in italics.
Two of the cardinals listed here, Jan Olbracht Waza and Marian Jaworski, were elevated in pectore, which means that their names were kept secret by the pope and revealed only on later consistories. In these cases, the date of elevation is the date of the in pectore elevation, not the date of the subsequent publication.
Cardinals are technically deacons or priests of Roman churches known as tituli. Their ranks and titular churches are indicated in the Cardinal title column. The "Other titles" column shows other, especially episcopal, titles held by the given person during his cardinalate.
The Conclaves column lists all conclaves, that is papal elections, that took place during a person's cardinalate and indicates whether he participated in a given conclave or not. Since Ingravescentem aetatem in 1970, cardinals who are 80 years or older at the beginning of a conclave are ineligible to participate.
The Ref. column provides links to external online references.
NameBornElevatedCardinal titleOther titlesConclavesDiedNotesRef.Image
Zbigniew OleśnickiSienno,
5 December 1389		 by Pope Eugene IVCardinal Priest of S. PriscaBishop of Kraków1447 – absentSandomierz,
1455		Also created pseudocardinal by Antipope Felix V in 1440, which nomination Oleśnicki declined. Pope Nicholas V confirmed Eugene's nomination and sent Oleśnicki his red hat in 1449.
Alexander of MasoviaPłock,
1400		 1440 by Antipope Felix VCardinal Priest of S. Lorenzo in DamasoBishop of Trent-Vienna, Austria
2 June 1444		Pseudocardinal
Wincenty KotDębno,
ca.1395		 1444 by Antipope Felix VCardinal Priest of S. CrisogonoArchbishop of Gniezno-Gniezno,
14 April 1448		Pseudocardinal; resigned the pseudocardinalate on 2 October 1447. Applied for recognition of his promotion from Pope Nicholas V, but died before obtaining it.
Fryderyk JagiellończykKraków,
27 April 1468		 1493 by Pope Alexander VICardinal Priest of S. Lucia in SeptisolioArchbishop of Gniezno, Bishop of Kraków-Kraków,
14 March 1503		Son of King Casimir IV of Poland, brother of Saint Casimir
Stanisław HozjuszKraków,
5 May 1504		26 February 1561 by Pope Pius IVCardinal Priest of S. Lorenzo in PanispernaBishop of Ermland1565 – absent; 1572 – participatedCapranica, Italy,
5 August 1579
Jerzy RadziwiłłWilno,
31 May 1556		 1583 by Pope Gregory XIIICardinal Priest of S. SistoBishop of Wilno until 1591, later Bishop of Kraków1585, Sep 1590, Oct 1590 – absent; 1591, 1592 – participatedRome, Italy,
21 January 1600
Bernard Maciejowski15489 June 1604 by Pope Clement VIIICardinal Priest of S. Giovanni a Porta LatinaBishop of Kraków until 1606, later Archbishop of GnieznoMar 1605, May 1605 – absentKraków,
19 January 1608
Jan Olbracht WazaKraków,
25 May 1612		 1629 in pectore by Pope Urban VIIICardinal Deacon of S. Maria in AquiroBishop of Kraków-Padua, Italy,
1634		Son of King Sigismund III of Poland. Elevated in pectore, announced on 20 December 1632.
Jan Kazimierz WazaKraków,
22 May 1609		28 May 1646 by Pope Innocent X--Nevers, France,
1672		Son of King Sigismund III of Poland. Resigned the cardinalate in 1647, resignation accepted by the pope on 6 July 1648. King of Poland 1648–1668.
Michał RadziejowskiPoznań,
1645		 1686 by Pope Innocent XICardinal Priest of S. Maria della PaceBishop of Ermland until 1688, later Archbishop of Gniezno1689, 1691, 1700 – absentGdańsk,
1705
Jan Kazimierz DenhoffWarsaw,
8 June 1649		 1686 by Pope Innocent XICardinal Priest of S. Giovanni a Porta LatinaBishop of Cesena, Italy; Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals 1695–16961689, 1691 – participatedRome,
20 June 1697
Jan Aleksander LipskiOlszyna,
15 June 1690		 1737 by Pope Clement XIIBishop of Kraków1740 – absentKielce,
20 February 1746
Leon Michał PrzyłuskiStrzeszynek,
1789		Elevation intended by Pope Pius IX to take place on 22 June 1866Archbishop of Gnesen-Posen -Poznań,
12 March 1865		The pope intended to elevate Przyłuski to cardinalate, but the bishop died before the consistory was announced.
Mieczysław LedóchowskiGórki,
1822		15 March 1875 by Pope Pius IXCardinal Priest of S. Maria in Ara CoeliArchbishop of Gnesen-Posen until 1896, later Prefect of the Congregation for Propagation of the Faith1878 – participatedRome,
22 July 1902
Włodzimierz CzackiPoryck,
16 April 1834		 1882 by Pope Leo XIIICardinal Priest of S. PudenzianaTitular Archbishop of Salamis, Apostolic Nuncio to France-Rome,
8 March 1888
Albin DunajewskiStanislau,
1 March 1817		23 June 1890 by Pope Leo XIIICardinal Priest of Ss. Vitale, Valeria, Gervasio e ProtasioBishop of Krakau -Krakau,
18 June 1894
Jan PuzynaGwoździec
1842		15 April 1901 by Pope Leo XIIICardinal Priest of Ss. Vitale, Valeria, Gervasio e ProtasioBishop of Krakau 1903 – participatedKrakau,
1911		At the conclave of 1903, Puzyna vetoed the election of Cardinal Mariano Rampolla in the name of Emperor Francis Joseph I of Austria-Hungary.
Edmund DalborOstrowo,
1869		 1919 by Pope Benedict XVCardinal Priest of S. Giovanni a Porta LatinaArchbishop of Gniezno-Poznań1922 – participatedPoznań,
13 February 1926
Aleksander KakowskiDębiny,
5 February 1862		15 December 1919 by Pope Benedict XVCardinal Priest of S. AgostinoArchbishop of Warsaw1922 – participatedWarsaw,
1938		Member of the Regency Council 1917–1918
August HlondMyslowitz,
5 July 1881		20 June 1927 by Pope Pius XICardinal Priest of S. Maria della PaceArchbishop of Gniezno-Poznań until 1946, later Archbishop of Gniezno and Warsaw1939 – participatedWarsaw,
1948		Beatification process started in 1992.
Adam Stefan SapiehaKrasiczyn,
14 May 1867		18 February 1946 by Pope Pius XIICardinal Priest of S. Maria NuovaArchbishop of Kraków-Kraków,
21 July 1951
Stefan WyszyńskiZuzela,
3 August 1901		12 January 1953 by Pope Pius XIICardinal Priest of S. Maria in TrastevereArchbishop of Gniezno and Warsaw1958, 1963, Aug 1978, Oct 1978 – participatedWarsaw,
28 May 1981		Impeded from attending the consistory, he received the red hat on 18 May 1957. Beatification process started in 1989.
Karol WojtyłaWadowice,
18 May 1920		26 June 1967 by Pope Paul VICardinal Priest of S. Cesareo in PalatioArchbishop of KrakówAug 1978 – participated; Oct 1978 – participated, electedRome,
2 April 2005		Elected pope on 16 October 1978, took the name John Paul II. Canonized in 2014.
Bolesław KominekRadlin,
1903		5 March 1973 by Pope Paul VICardinal Priest of S. Croce in via FlaminiaArchbishop of Wrocław-Wrocław,
10 March 1974
Bolesław FilipiakOśniszczewko,
1901		24 May 1976 by Pope Pope Paul VICardinal Deacon of S. Giovanni Bosco in via TuscolanaTitular Bishop of Plestia, Dean of the Roman RotaAug 1978 – absent ; Oct 1978 – absent Poznań,
1978
Władysław RubinToki,
1917		30 June 1979 by Pope John Paul IICardinal Deacon of S. Maria in Via LataTitular Bishop of Serta, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches until 1985-Rome,
1990
Franciszek MacharskiKraków,
20 May 1927		30 June 1979 by Pope John Paul IICardinal Priest of S. Giovanni a Porta LatinaArchbishop of Kraków until 20052005 – participated; 2013 – no voting rightsKraków,
2 August 2016		Lost electoral rights in 2007
Józef GlempInowrocław,
1929		2 February 1983 by Pope John Paul IICardinal Priest of S. Maria in TrastevereArchbishop of Gniezno until 1992, Archbishop of Warsaw until 20062005 – participatedWarsaw, 2013Lost electoral rights in 2009
Andrzej Maria DeskurSancygniów,
29 February 1924		25 May 1985 by Pope John Paul IICardinal Deacon of S. Cesareo in Palatio Titular Archbishop of Thenae, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications until 19842005 – no voting rightsRome,
2011		Lost electoral rights in 2004
Henryk GulbinowiczWilno,
1923		25 May 1985 by Pope John Paul IICardinal Priest of Immacolata Concezione di Maria a GrottarossaArchbishop of Wrocław until 20042005, 2013 – no voting rightsLivingLost electoral rights in 2003
Kazimierz ŚwiątekValga, Estonia,
1914		26 November 1994 by Pope John Paul IICardinal Priest of S. Gerardo MaiellaArchbishop of Minsk-Mohilev, Belarus, until 20062005 – no voting rightsPinsk, Belarus,
21 July 2011		Never had electoral rights. First cardinal from Belarus.
Adam KozłowieckiHuta Komorowska,
1 April 1911		21 February 1998 by Pope John Paul IICardinal Priest of S. Andrea al QuirinaleTitular Archbishop of Potentia in Piceno2005 – no voting rightsLusaka, Zambia,
2007		Never had electoral rights. First cardinal from Zambia.
Marian JaworskiLwów,
21 August 1926		21 February 1998 in pectore by Pope John Paul IICardinal Priest of S. SistoArchbishop of Lviv, Ukraine, until 20082005 – participated; 2013 – no voting rightsLivingElevated in pectore, announced on 21 February 2001. Lost electoral rights in 2006.
Zenon GrocholewskiBródki,
1939		21 February 2001 by Pope John Paul IICardinal Deacon of S. Nicola in CarcereTitular Archbishop of Acropolis, Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education until 20152005, 2013 – participatedRome,
2020		Lost electoral rights in 2019.
Stanisław NagyBerun,
1921		 2003 by Pope John Paul IICardinal Deacon of S. Maria della ScalaTitular Archbishop of Hólar2005, 2013 – no voting rightsKraków,
2013		Never had electoral rights.
Stanisław DziwiszRaba Wyżna,
27 April 1939		24 March 2006 by Pope Benedict XVICardinal Priest of S. Maria del PopoloArchbishop of Kraków until 20162013 – participatedLivingLost electoral rights in 2019
Ignacy JeżRadomyśl Wielki,
31 July 1914		Elevation intended by Pope Benedict XVI to take place on 24 November 2007Bishop Emeritus of Koszalin-Kołobrzeg-Rome,
2007		The pope intended to elevate Jeż to cardinalate, but the bishop died one day before the consistory was announced. The pope later confirmed that Jeż should be counted as a cardinal.

Stanisław RyłkoAndrychów,
4 July 1945		 2007 by Pope Benedict XVICardinal Deacon of Sacro Cuore di Cristo ReTitular Archbishop of Novica, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity until 20162013 – participatedLiving
Kazimierz NyczStara Wieś,
1 February 1950		 2010 by Pope Benedict XVICardinal Priest of Ss. Silvestro e Martino ai MontiArchbishop of Warsaw2013 – participatedLiving
Konrad KrajewskiŁódź,
25 November 1963		 2018 by Pope FrancisCardinal Deacon of Santa Maria Immacolata all’EsquilinoTitular Bishop of Beneventum, Almoner of the Office of Papal Charities-Living

Polish cardinals eligible for participation in a conclave

, three of the living Polish cardinals listed above are less than 80 years old and hence eligible to participate in a conclave. They are listed below by date of birth.
NameBornAgeElectoral rights expire
Stanisław Ryłko4 July 19454 July 2025
Kazimierz Nycz1 February 19501 February 2030
Konrad Krajewski25 November 196325 November 2043