In memoriam Father Wacław Hryniewicz, OMI

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity has learned with sadness of the death of Father Wacław Hryniewicz, OMI, ecumenist, academic and expert theologian of Orthodox theology, who passed away on 26 March 2020, at the age of 84, in Lublin, Poland.

Born in 1936, Father Hryniewicz took his religious vows with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1953 and was ordained in 1960. He was the co–founder of the Ecumenical Institute of the University of Lublin in 1983, and its director from 1997 to 2005. Father Hryniewicz was a Consultor with the then Secretariat for Christian Unity from 1979 to 1984, and member of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church from 1980 to 2000. In Poland, he was a member of the Episcopal Commission for Ecumenism from 1980 to 2005. Author of many scholarly articles and books on ecumenical theology, Father Hryniewicz was the recipient of many ecclesial and civil awards.

In this Paschal period, the staff of the Pontifical Council pray that the risen Christ may grant Father Hryniewicz the rest of the righteous and the fullness of eternal life. The President of the Pontifical Council sent a letter of condolence to his Provincial Superior.

Requiescat in pace.