- Take up with me the toil of preaching Christ,' Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski asked the faithful gathered at Wawel Cathedral.
Appointed by Pope Francis, Archbishop Jedraszewski replaced Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, who is retiring after 11 years of service to the archdiocese. - You are beginning to write a new page, and we will write it with you," Cardinal Dziwisz said to his successor.
During his homily, Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski said, among other things, that Our Lady's vigil over Poland was an important part of the country's 1050-year history. - Present the truth about Christ the King, poignantly expressed by St. Brother Albert in the painting Ecce Homo, where the crown of Our Lord speaks of His immeasurable suffering, and His painful face commands us to direct our hearts to every poor, suffering and hurt person; go with hope to meet the young people who so recently during the World Youth Day have enchanted us with the purity of their look and enthusiasm of faith - asked the Metropolitan.
In 1997, John Paul II appointed Jedrzejowski as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Poznan. He was appointed Metropolitan of Lodz in July 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. He received the metropolitan pallium from Pope Francis, June 29, 2013 in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. On December 8, 2016, Francis appointed him Metropolitan of Krakow (the papal bull was read at the main altar during the ceremony).
The solemn ingress of Archbishop Marek Jedraszewski was attended by the President of Poland Andrzej Duda and his wife, the Speakers of the Sejm and Senate, Prime Minister Beata Szydło, representatives of state authorities, the clergy and the faithful.
The outgoing Metropolitan of Krakow, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, was honored with the Order of the White Eagle. - Cardinal Dziwisz's whole life has been a distinguished service for the Republic of Poland', said the President who presented the distinction. - His way was the way of life for God, for the neighbours, for the Church, but also for Poland.
The Order is conferred for civilian as well as military merits achieved in times of peace or war, for the glory and benefit of the Republic of Poland. It was established in 1705 and renewed by the Sejm of the Republic of Poland by Act of 4 February 1921.
The Speaker of the Sejm's entry in the Memorial Book on the occasion of the Ingress of Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski:
On this solemn day when Your Excellency begins his canonical and liturgical ministry in the Archdiocese of Cracow, I wish You from the bottom of my heart many graces of God, good health and strength in fulfilling Your new duties. I remain in prayer.
