Andrzej Maria Deskur

Andrzej Maria Deskur (29 February 1924 – 3 September 2011) was President emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and a Cardinal of the Catholic Church.

Life and career

Deskur was born in Sancygniów, near Kielce, Poland, the son of Stanisława (Kossecka) and Andrzej Deskur. He received a doctorate in law in 1945 from the Jagiellonian University (study underground). He was the secretary general of the Polish student organization "Bratniak". He entered the seminary in Kraków and was ordained a priest on 20 August 1950. He obtained a doctorate in theology from the University of Freiburg and, after two years of pastoral activity and study in France and Switzerland, in September 1952, he was called to Rome to work in the Secretariat of State. During this period he served as undersecretary of the Pontifical Commission for Cinematography, Radio and Television (1954–1964), secretary of the Preparatory Secretariat for the Press and Entertainment during Vatican II (1960–1962), peritus for the assembly of the council (1962–1965) and was a member of the Conciliar Commissions for Bishops, for the Clergy, for the Laity, and for the Press and Entertainment. He was buried at the St. John Paul II Center, Krakow, Poland.