From the past
The Pontifical University of John Paul II in Cracow derives from the eldest Polish university - the Jagiellonian University, which has been associated with the history of our city and our country for more than six hundred years.
On May 12th, 1364, King Casimir the Great issued a Foundation Act initiating a university, which had been approved by Pope Urban V beforehand. At that time, the school was called Studium Generale, and it did not include a theology faculty. It was only at the request of St Queen Jadwiga and her husband Wladyslaw Jagiello that Pope Boniface IX issued the Bull, Eximiae devotionis affectus, dated 11th of January, instituting the Faculty of Theology in Cracow. This day initiates a more than six hundred years' activity of the Faculty.
In the Foundation Act of July 26th, 1400, the Faculty of Theology was mentioned in the first place, and since then it was of primary importance at the Cracow University for many centuries.
In accordance with the idea of St Queen Jadwiga, the professors of the Faculty got involved in Christianization of Lithuania. Owing to their speeches at the Councils of Constance and Basle, the Faculty became famous not only in Poland, but also beyond.
At the times of the First Polish Republic, the rectors of the Cracow University were mostly elected from among its theologians. After Poland survived the partition period and regained independence in 1918, the Cracow Faculty of Theology - which boasted outstanding professors and the biggest number of students in Poland - was one of the main centres of Polish theological thought. Its graduates were among academic staff of almost all Polish theology faculties and many seminaries.
During the World War II, the Nazis imprisoned a big number of the Faculty professors in concentration camps. Despite heavy repressions and casualties among the personnel which were inflicted by the occupiers, the Faculty provided underground education. In 1945, the academic staff of the Faculty expanded, increased by the number of professors from the Polish eastern region, mainly Lviv.
Unfortunately, by the resolution of the Polish Communist government in 1954, the Faculty of Theology was removed from the Jagiellonian University. However, this decision did not interrupt its actual and canonical existence.
In 1959, the Holy See issued a decree which affirmed: "in accordance with its institution and character, the Faculty of Theology remains managed by one, ecclesiastical authority, and in the future it should be shaped according to the laws passed by the Holy See". Owing to Cardinal Karol Wojtyla's efforts, the Faculty was granted the honourable title: "Pontifical" in 1974.
The Beata Hedvigis Motu Proprio, issued by Holy Father John Paul II on December 8th, 1981, was a turning point in the history of the Theology Faculty in Cracow. It brought into being the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Cracow with three Faculties: of Theology, Philosophy and Church History. In 1999 the fourth faculty of theology located in Tarnów came into existence and in 2008 the fifth faculty of Social Sciences has been founded.
The Pontifical Academy of Theology in Cracow has taken over the traditions of the the Jagiellonian University's Theology Faculty, which rendered great service to the culture, the country and the Church in Poland. Remaining in the care of its patron saints: St John of Kęty, St Queen Jadwiga and St Joseph Sebastian Pelczar, the Academy continues the heritage of centuries.
Since 2005, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz has been the Great Chancellor of the Academy.
In February 2010, the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Cracow was given the official name of the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Cracow.
Excerpt from the Beata Hedvigis Motu Proprio
(...) As since 1962, and especially later since I became the Cracow Archbishop and the Great Chancellor of the Faculty, I have been more closely related with all its activity - I entirely share the opinion that my successor in this Archbishopric, Franciszek Cardinal Macharski, presented to me, namely that under these circumstances and in accordance with the needs of our times, we should establish a Pontifical Academy of Theology including three Faculties: of Theology, Philosophy and Church History (...)
On May 12th, 1364, King Casimir the Great issued a Foundation Act initiating a university, which had been approved by Pope Urban V beforehand. At that time, the school was called Studium Generale, and it did not include a theology faculty. It was only at the request of St Queen Jadwiga and her husband Wladyslaw Jagiello that Pope Boniface IX issued the Bull, Eximiae devotionis affectus, dated 11th of January, instituting the Faculty of Theology in Cracow. This day initiates a more than six hundred years' activity of the Faculty.
In the Foundation Act of July 26th, 1400, the Faculty of Theology was mentioned in the first place, and since then it was of primary importance at the Cracow University for many centuries.
In accordance with the idea of St Queen Jadwiga, the professors of the Faculty got involved in Christianization of Lithuania. Owing to their speeches at the Councils of Constance and Basle, the Faculty became famous not only in Poland, but also beyond.
At the times of the First Polish Republic, the rectors of the Cracow University were mostly elected from among its theologians. After Poland survived the partition period and regained independence in 1918, the Cracow Faculty of Theology - which boasted outstanding professors and the biggest number of students in Poland - was one of the main centres of Polish theological thought. Its graduates were among academic staff of almost all Polish theology faculties and many seminaries.
During the World War II, the Nazis imprisoned a big number of the Faculty professors in concentration camps. Despite heavy repressions and casualties among the personnel which were inflicted by the occupiers, the Faculty provided underground education. In 1945, the academic staff of the Faculty expanded, increased by the number of professors from the Polish eastern region, mainly Lviv.
Unfortunately, by the resolution of the Polish Communist government in 1954, the Faculty of Theology was removed from the Jagiellonian University. However, this decision did not interrupt its actual and canonical existence.
In 1959, the Holy See issued a decree which affirmed: "in accordance with its institution and character, the Faculty of Theology remains managed by one, ecclesiastical authority, and in the future it should be shaped according to the laws passed by the Holy See". Owing to Cardinal Karol Wojtyla's efforts, the Faculty was granted the honourable title: "Pontifical" in 1974.
The Beata Hedvigis Motu Proprio, issued by Holy Father John Paul II on December 8th, 1981, was a turning point in the history of the Theology Faculty in Cracow. It brought into being the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Cracow with three Faculties: of Theology, Philosophy and Church History. In 1999 the fourth faculty of theology located in Tarnów came into existence and in 2008 the fifth faculty of Social Sciences has been founded.
The Pontifical Academy of Theology in Cracow has taken over the traditions of the the Jagiellonian University's Theology Faculty, which rendered great service to the culture, the country and the Church in Poland. Remaining in the care of its patron saints: St John of Kęty, St Queen Jadwiga and St Joseph Sebastian Pelczar, the Academy continues the heritage of centuries.
Since 2005, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz has been the Great Chancellor of the Academy.
In February 2010, the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Cracow was given the official name of the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Cracow.
Excerpt from the Beata Hedvigis Motu Proprio
(...) As since 1962, and especially later since I became the Cracow Archbishop and the Great Chancellor of the Faculty, I have been more closely related with all its activity - I entirely share the opinion that my successor in this Archbishopric, Franciszek Cardinal Macharski, presented to me, namely that under these circumstances and in accordance with the needs of our times, we should establish a Pontifical Academy of Theology including three Faculties: of Theology, Philosophy and Church History (...)