On 5th Easter Sunday, 3rd May 2026, at the age of 85, 61st year of the priesthood and 39th year of the bishopric went to the Father's House Archbishop Józef Michalik – retired Archbishop of the Latin rite industry.
Information on the death of the hierarch was given by the Archdiocese of Przemysca.
Archbishop Józef Michalik was one of the most important figures of the Polish Church in recent decades. From 1986 to 1993 he served as the diocesan bishop of Zielono Góra-gorzowski (until 1992 Gorzowski). In 1993, he was appointed Archbishop of Przemysl Metropolitan and led the archdiocese for 23 years – until 2016.
He played a key role in the Polish Episcopal Conference for many years: between 1999 and 2004 he was its vice-president and between 2004 and 2014 he was its chairman (two full terms). He also served as Vice-President of the Council of the Conference of Episcopals of Europe from 2011 to 2014.
His service was due to the turbulent period of systemic transformation in Poland and the integration of the country into the European Union. He was known as a strong defender of Christian values and traditional teaching of the Church.
The Metropolitan Curia in Przemyśl announced that details of the date and course of funeral ceremonies would be given shortly.
The news of Archbishop Michalik's death quickly revolved around the Polish Church. The bishops and the faithful remember him as a man of deep faith, a dedicated pastor and a prominent hierarch who shaped the face of the Polish Episcopate for a decade.
Source: Vatican News EN
