On Dec. 20, Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś was sworn in as the new Metropolitan of Kraków at the Wawel Cathedral, with Polish politicians and clergy in attendance.
Cardinal Ryś’s Ingress at Wawel
On Saturday 20 December the Archdiocese of Kraków held the official ingress of Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś as its new Metropolitan. The ceremony took place in the historic Wawel Cathedral, replacing Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski, who had led the archdiocese since 2017.
State and Regional Officials in Attendance
Key Polish officials were present, including Vice‑Premier and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz, State Secretary Wojciech Kolarski, Małopolska voivode Krzysztof Jan Klęczar, and Kraków Deputy Mayor Stanisław Kracik.
Clerical Leaders Present
The service featured several senior clergy: Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski (formerly Metropolitan), Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Cardinal Arthur Roche, and Apostolic Nuncio to Poland Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, who read the papal nomination and conveyed the pastoral letter to Ryś.
Other cardinals attended, including Stanisław Dziwisz, Stanisław Ryłko, Konrad Krajewski, and Kazimierz Nycz.
Cardinal Ryś’s Past Roles
Ryś was appointed Metropolitan of Kraków on 26 November 2023 by Pope Benedict XIV. He formerly directed the Archdiocesan Archive in Kraków, served as rector of the Higher Theological Seminary of the Kraków Archdiocese, and chaired the Conference of Rectors of Polish Theological Seminaries.
From 2017 to 2025 he headed the Archdiocese of Łódź and has since been appointed cardinal in 2023 by Pope Francis. He sits on several Vatican dicasteries and in the Polish Episcopal Conference, chairing the Council for Religious Dialogue and the Committee for Dialogue with Judaism.
Commitment to Ecumenism and Dialogue
Ryś is noted for his openness to inter‑religious dialogue, having organized ecumenical meetings such as “Echo Asyżu in Kraków” with Christians, Muslims and Jews, and the “Pagan Courtyard” series for believers and atheists.
