Wyszynski, << vih SHIHN skee, >> Stefan (1901-1981), was the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Poland from 1948 until his death. He became an archbishop in 1948 and a cardinal in 1953. Several months after Wyszynski became a cardinal, Poland’s Communist government imprisoned him for opposing its antireligious policies.
Wyszynski led the opposition to the government from 1956, when he was released from prison, until his death on May 28, 1981. However, he followed a policy of compromise. For example, he spoke out for religious freedom and other personal rights. But he avoided open conflict with the Communists, especially when he thought it might lead to Russian intervention in Poland. During the 1970’s, his policies helped improve relations between the church and the government.
Wyszynski was born on Aug. 3, 1901, in Zuzela, near Warsaw. He was ordained a priest in 1924 and earned a doctorate in sociology from Catholic University in Lublin. He took part in the movement against the Nazi occupation of Poland during World War II (1939-1945).
