Jerzy Turowicz

Jerzy Turowicz (; 10 December 1912 – 27 January 1999) was a leading Polish Catholic journalist and editor for much of the post-Second World War period. He was editor of the Catholic weekly magazine Tygodnik Powszechny from 1945 until his death in 1999, except for three years in the early 1950s.

Early life and education Turowicz was born on 10 December 1912 in Kraków, the son of Klotylda (Turnau) and August Turowicz, a judge.

In 1930, he joined a Catholic youth organization, called Rebirth. He graduated from Jagiellonian University in 1939 with a degree in philosophy. It was financed by Adam Sapieha, Archbishop of Kraków.

In 1956, Turowicz both returned to his editorial post and was made a member of the Sejm, Polish Parliament, along with other Catholic figures. In 1964 he was one of the signatories of the so-called Letter of 34 to Prime Minister Józef Cyrankiewicz regarding freedom of culture. He was a member of the Polish Round Table Talks during the Revolutions of 1989, leading to the fall of the communist regime in the country. He died of a heart attack in Kraków on 27 January 1999. His grandson is Polish-American cinematographer Lukasz Jogalla and his great-grandson is American actor Pico Alexander.

Legacy and awards In 1995, Turowicz was awarded the Order of the White Eagle, the highest state award of Poland and silver Kraków service medal. In 1998, Maria Zmarz-Koczanowicz produced the documentary, Ordinary Kindness (Zwyczajna dobroć), telling the story of Turowicz.

On 10 December 2012, the 100th anniversary of Turowicz's birth, a plaque in honor of him was unveiled in Kraków. A street in Kraków is named after him.