On the 5th Sunday of Easter, 3 May 2026, at the age of 85, in the 61st year of his priesthood and the 39th year of his episcopate, Archbishop Józef Michalik – emeritus Latin-rite metropolitan archbishop of Przemyśl – passed away to the House of the Father.
The Archdiocese of Przemyśl announced the death of the prelate.
Archbishop Józef Michalik was one of the most important figures in the Polish Church in recent decades. From 1986 to 1993 he served as diocesan bishop of Zielona Góra–Gorzów (until 1992, Gorzów). In 1993 he was appointed metropolitan archbishop of Przemyśl and led the archdiocese for 23 years, until 2016.
For many years he played a key role in the Polish Bishops’ Conference (KEP): from 1999 to 2004 he was its vice-chairman, and from 2004 to 2014 its chairman (two full terms). From 2011 to 2014 he also served as vice-president of the Council of the Conferences of Bishops of Europe (CCEE).
His ministry coincided with the turbulent period of political transformation in Poland and the country’s integration with the European Union. He was known as a firm defender of Christian values and the Church’s traditional teaching.
The Metropolitan Curia in Przemyśl said that details regarding the date and course of the funeral ceremonies will be announced shortly.
News of Archbishop Michalik’s death quickly spread through the Polish Church. Bishops and faithful remember him as a man of deep faith, a devoted pastor and an outstanding prelate who, for a decade, shaped the face of the Polish Episcopal Conference.
Source: Vatican News PL
