Zygmunt Zimowski facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Excellency Zygmunt Zimowski |
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| President of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers | |
Archbishop Zimowski in 2010
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| Appointed | 18 April 2009 |
| Reign ended | 12 July 2016 |
| Predecessor | Javier Lozano Barragán |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 27 May 1973 |
| Consecration | 25 May 2002 by Joseph Ratzinger |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 April 1949 Kupienin, Poland |
| Died | 13 July 2016 (aged 67) Dąbrowa Tarnowska, Poland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Previous post | Bishop of Radom (2002–2009) |
| Styles of Zygmunt Zimowski |
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| Reference style | The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Monsignor |
Zygmunt Zimowski (born April 7, 1949 – died July 13, 2016) was an important leader in the Roman Catholic Church from Poland. He was an Archbishop, which is a high-ranking bishop.
Archbishop Zimowski was the head of a special office called the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Health Care Workers. He led this office from 2009 until he passed away in 2016. Before that, he was the bishop of Radom from 2002 to 2009.
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Early Life and Education
Zygmunt Zimowski was born in a town called Kupienin in Poland. He became a priest on May 27, 1973.
He studied a lot and earned degrees in theology. Theology is the study of religious faith and practice. He got his first degree from the Catholic University of Lublin. Later, he earned a doctorate from the University of Innsbruck in Austria.
In 1983, he started working for an important department in the Vatican called the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He worked there for many years. He was also given special titles like "Chaplain of His Holiness" and "Prelate of Honour."
Teaching and Writings
Zimowski was also a teacher. He taught about the Church at the Catholic University of Lublin and another university in Warsaw. He wrote many articles, letters, and books. He wrote over 120 publications!
He also helped prepare the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This is a book that explains the beliefs of the Catholic Church. He also worked with the Polish section of Radio Vatican.
Becoming a Bishop
On March 28, 2002, Zygmunt Zimowski was chosen to be the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Radom. He officially became a bishop on May 25, 2002. The person who consecrated him was Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI.
In Poland, he held several important roles within the Polish Bishops' Conference. He was the head of the group that dealt with Church teachings. He also helped Polish people who had moved to other countries.
Work at the Vatican
In 2009, Bishop Zimowski was appointed to lead the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Health Care Workers. This council helps people who work in healthcare and also looks after the spiritual needs of sick people. When he took on this role, he was also given the special title of Archbishop.
Archbishop Zimowski was very good at languages. Besides his native Polish, he could speak Italian, German, English, French, and Russian.
Helping Those with Illnesses
Archbishop Zimowski often spoke about important health issues around the world.
In 2011, he talked about Leprosy, an ancient disease. He explained that even though there are medicines for it, it still causes suffering and social exclusion. He noted that many people with leprosy live in Asia, South America, and Africa. He said that people with leprosy often face being left out of society.
He also spoke at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. He pointed out that rich people often have better healthcare than poor people. He asked for more money to be given to poorer countries to help them with health care.
Support for People with Autism
On World Autism Awareness Day in 2012, Archbishop Zimowski spoke about autism. He said that the Church needs to help people with autism, especially children and young people. He wanted to break down the "barriers of silence" that often surround them and share in their journey with support and prayer.
Promoting Universal Health Care
In May 2012, Archbishop Zimowski supported the idea of "universal health care." This means that everyone, no matter how much money they have, should be able to get good healthcare. He believed that values like fairness and human rights should be part of health policies. He also asked richer countries to help poorer nations with their healthcare needs.
In July 2012, Pope Benedict XVI also named Archbishop Zimowski a member of the Congregation for Bishops. This group helps the Pope choose new bishops.
Archbishop Zimowski passed away in Poland on July 13, 2016. He had been getting treatment for pancreatic cancer.
