Pope Leo XIV appoints Card. Grzegorz Ryś as the new Metropolitan Archbishop of Krakow.
At noon on November 26, 2025, the Holy See announced that Pope Leo XIV has appointed Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, until now Metropolitan Archbishop of Łódź, as the new Metropolitan Archbishop of Krakow.
This news is of particular importance also for our Foundation, since according to its Statute: “The Foundation remains under the Higher Authority of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Krakow pro tempore, successor of Cardinal Karol Wojtyła on the archiepiscopal see of this city” (Statute of the John Paul II Vatican Foundation, approved by the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on November 15, 2023 ).
To His Eminence Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś we extend our heartfelt wishes of God’s Blessing, the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the intercession of our patron, St. John Paul II, in guiding the Church of Krakow and in caring for our Foundation.
Cardinal Grzegorz Wojciech Ryś was born on February 9, 1964, in Krakow. He was ordained a priest on May 22, 1988. On September 28, 2011, he received episcopal consecration as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Krakow. On September 14, 2017, he became Metropolitan Archbishop of Łódź, and on September 30, 2023, he was elevated to the dignity of Cardinal. His episcopal motto is: “Virtus in infirmitate” (“Power in weakness”).
Cardinal Ryś is a member of two Vatican Dicasteries: the Dicastery for Bishops (since 2020) and the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (since 2023).
Within the structures of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś serves as:
- Member of the Permanent Council of the Polish Bishops’ Conference,
- Chairman of the Council for Interreligious Dialogue,
- Chairman of the Committee for Dialogue with Judaism,
- Member of the Council for Ecumenism,
- Member of the Council for Culture and Protection of Cultural Heritage,
- Member of the Council for the Family.
As Metropolitan Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś also becomes, by office, Protector of the Polish Church of St. Stanislaus B&M in Rome.
