Wojciech Giertych

Wojciech Giertych, O.P.
Born October 27, 1951 (1951-10-27) (age 60)
Tottenham (London), England
Education St Ignatius' College
Adam Mickiewicz University
The Angelicum
Parents Jędrzej and Maria Giertych
Church Catholic Church
Ordained 1981
Congregations served Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Offices held Theologian of the Papal Household (2005–Present)
Title Papal Theologian

Wojciech Giertych, O.P. (pronounced [ˈvɔjt​͡ɕɛx ˈɡʲɛrtɨx]; born September 27, 1951) is a Polish Roman Catholic priest in the Dominican Order. He currently serves in the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household as theologian to the Pope.

Biography

Wojciech Giertych, one of nine children, was born in London, England on September 27, 1951 to writer Jędrzej Giertych and his wife Maria, six years after his family emigrated from Warsaw.[1][2] His brother is Polish politician Maciej Giertych.[2] Two of his sisters entered religious life.[2]

Giertych began his studies at St Ignatius' College in Stamford Hill.[2] After completing his studies at St Ignatius' in 1970, he studied history at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.[2][3] After graduating from the university, he joined the Dominican novitiate in 1975.[2] He was ordained to the priesthood in 1981 in Kraków.[1][3] He studied theology in Rome, obtaining a licentiate in spiritual theology in 1983 and a doctorate in 1989 from the Angelicum,[2] where he has been a professor of moral theology since 1994.[1][2] Since 1998, he has held various roles as a member of the General Council of the Dominicans.[3]

He was appointed theologian of the Papal Household on December 1, 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI.[1] This post, which since the Middle Ages has been held by Dominicans, is tasked with providing advice to the Pope on theological issues, as well as checking papal texts for theological clarity.[1] Giertych also serves on the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses and as a consultant to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the International Theological Commission, and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.[2]

Giertych speaks Polish, English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, and Russian.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "New theologian appointed for papal household". Catholic World News (Catholic Culture.org). December 1, 2005. http://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=41025. Retrieved January 3, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mickens, Robert (December 10, 2005). "Vatican names new papal theologian". The Tablet. http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/626. Retrieved January 3, 2011. 
  3. ^ a b c "Prof. Wojciech Giertych OP". John Paul II Pontificate Center. 2008. http://www.jp2symposium.org/jp2symposium_speakers_wg.html. Retrieved 3 January 2010. 

External links