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Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz Testifies in Krakow Abuse Lawsuit
Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz appeared before the District Court in Kraków as a witness in a civil case filed by Janusz Szymik. Szymik seeks 20 million zł compensation from the Archdiocese of Kraków and the parish in Międzybrodzie Biały for sexual abuse he suffered as a child between 1984 and 1989 at the hands of priest Jan W. The cardinal told the court he had no knowledge of the abuse because, at the time, he was serving in the Vatican as the personal secretary to Pope John Paul II, a role he held for 27 years. He said he knew all priests in the archdiocese but had no personal or social contacts with them, and he was unaware of how Jan W. became secretary to then‑metropolitan Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, as he was in Rome then. Plaintiffs argue Dziwisz may have received information about the abuse from priest Tadeusz Isakowicz‑Zaleski. The court is also trying to summon Jan W. as a witness, but his whereabouts remain unknown.
Entities
Archdiocese of Krakow · Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz · Jan W. Zychowicz · Janusz Szymik · Pope John Paul II · Priest Jan W. · Tadeusz Isakowicz‑Zaleski
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Cardinal Dziwisz said he did not know the case because he was serving as personal secretary to Pope John Paul II in the Vatican at the time. ikc.pl · razydzisiaj.pl · www.fakt.pl · www.rmf24.pl
- [● 4 SOURCES] The lawsuit seeks 20 million zł in compensation for sexual abuse suffered by Janusz Szymik as a child between 1984 and 1989 by priest Jan W. ikc.pl · razydzisiaj.pl · www.fakt.pl · www.rmf24.pl
- [● 4 SOURCES] The court is also seeking testimony from priest Jan W., whose whereabouts are currently unknown. ikc.pl · razydzisiaj.pl · www.fakt.pl · www.rmf24.pl
- [● 4 SOURCES] Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz testified as a witness in the Kraków District Court case filed by Janusz Szymik against the Archdiocese of Kraków and the parish in Międzybrodzie Biały. ikc.pl · razydzisiaj.pl · www.fakt.pl · www.rmf24.pl
- [● 4 SOURCES] Dziwisz said he was unaware of the circumstances under which priest Jan W. became secretary to Cardinal Franciszek Macharski because he was in Rome at the time. ikc.pl · razydzisiaj.pl · www.fakt.pl · www.rmf24.pl
- [● 4 SOURCES] Dziwisz served as Pope John Paul II’s personal secretary for 27 years. ikc.pl · razydzisiaj.pl · www.fakt.pl · www.rmf24.pl
- [● 4 SOURCES] Dziwisz said he knew all priests in the Archdiocese of Kraków but had no personal or social contacts with them. ikc.pl · razydzisiaj.pl · www.fakt.pl · www.rmf24.pl
- [● 4 SOURCES] Plaintiffs allege Dziwisz may have been informed about the abuse through signals from priest Tadeusz Isakowicz‑Zaleski. ikc.pl · razydzisiaj.pl · www.fakt.pl · www.rmf24.pl