Jozef Tomko | |
|---|---|
| President Emeritus of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses | |
 Tomko in 2018 at Zvir Mountain inLitmanová, Slovakia | |
| Appointed | 23 October 2001 |
| Term ended | 1 October 2007 |
| Predecessor | Edouard Gagnon |
| Successor | Piero Marini |
| Other post | Cardinal-Priest of Santa Sabina |
| Previous posts |
|
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 12 March 1949 by Luigi Traglia |
| Consecration | 15 September 1979 by John Paul II |
| Created cardinal | 25 May 1985 by John Paul II |
| Rank | Cardinal priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1924-03-11)11 March 1924 |
| Died | 8 August 2022(2022-08-08) (aged 98) Rome, Italy |
| Buried | St Elisabeth Cathedral,Košice |
| Nationality | Slovak |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Motto | "Ut ecclesia aedificetur" |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Jozef Tomko | |
|---|---|
| |
| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
Jozef Tomko (11 March 1924 – 8 August 2022) was a Slovak prelate of theCatholic Church who held positions in theRoman Curia from 1962 until he retired in 2007. He was prefect of theCongregation for the Evangelization of Peoples from 1985 to 2001 and president of thePontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses from 2001 to 2007. He was made acardinal in 1985.
Jozef Tomko was born 11 March 1924 inUdavské, nearHumenné, inCzechoslovakia (now inSlovakia). In 1943 he entered theTheologicalFaculty ofBratislava. He was sent to Rome to study at thePontifical Lateran Athenaeum andPontifical Gregorian University, where he obtained hisdoctorates in theology,canon law, andsocial sciences.[1] Tomko wasordained to the priesthood byArchbishop Luigi Traglia on 12 March 1949 in theArchbasilica of St. John Lateran.
He continued his studies at the Lateran and Gregorian University while doing pastoral work in Rome andPorto e Santa Rufina until 1979. From 1950 to 1965, he served as vice-rector and later rector of the Pontifical Nepomucenum College.[1] He taught at the International UniversityPro Deo from 1955 to 1956 as well. During this period, Tomko was actively involved in establishment of the Slovak Institute of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Rome. He visited the Slovak communities in the United States, Canada, and various European countries several times.[2] Tomko for decades regularly addressed Slovak Catholics on Vatican Radio and also on Catholic TV Lux.[citation needed]
Tomko was raised to the rank ofPrivy Chamberlain supernumerary on 5 December 1959, and entered the service of theRoman Curia in 1962, as an adjunct in theBook Censorship Section of theCongregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). In reference to the more lenient measures taken against dissident theologians, he once remarked, "The electric chair and gas chamber are no more".[3] During theSecond Vatican Council (1962–1965) he worked as a consultant for the CDF and later became a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Family. Tomko became anHonorary Prelate of His Holiness on 17 June 1970. He was named Undersecretary of theCongregation for Bishops in 1974. He was a visiting professor at the Gregorian University from 1970 to 1977.
On 12 July 1979, Tomko was appointedSecretary General of theWorld Synod of Bishops andTitular Archbishop of Doclea byPope John Paul II.[4] He received hisepiscopal consecration on the following 15 September from John Paul.[5] On 18 October 1979 he became a member of the Pontifical Commission for the interpretation of the decrees of the Second Vatican Council.[6] Tomko was named Pro-Prefect of theCongregation for the Evangelization of Peoples on 24 April 1985[7] and Chancellor of thePontifical Urbaniana University.
John Paul II created himCardinal-Deacon ofGesù Buon Pastore alla Montagnola in theconsistory of 25 May 1985.[8] He was then named prefect of his congregation.[9] During his tenure, he became a closeconfidant of Pope John Paul, and served as a specialpapal envoy to several religious celebrations. He was named a member of the Presynodal Council for Special Synod of Asian Bishops in September 1995. After ten years as a cardinal deacon, he opted for order ofCardinal Priests and assumed thetitular church ofS. Sabina on 29 January 1996.[10]
Tomko was appointed President of thePontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses on 23 October 2001.[11] In this post, he presided over theHoly See's delegation to the Interreligious Congress inAstana,Kazakhstan, from 23 to 24 September 2003. As papal legate he chaired the 48th International Eucharistic Congress inGuadalajara,Mexico, in October 2004.
Upon the death of John Paul II on 2 April 2005, Tomko and all major Vatican officials automatically lost their positions. He was confirmed as president of International Eucharistic Congresses byPope Benedict XVI on 21 April.[12] Tomko retired as president on 1 October 2007.[13]
Pope Benedict XVI established a Commission of Cardinals to investigate leaks of reserved and confidential documents on television, in newspapers, and in other communications media. It first met on 24 April 2012.Cardinal Herranz served as the chair and the other members were Cardinals Tomko andSalvatore De Giorgi.[14]
At thepapal inauguration ofPope Francis on 19 March 2013, Tomko was one of the six cardinals who made the public act of obedience on behalf of theCollege of Cardinals to the new pope.[a][15][16]
In February 2015 he attended the consistory of cardinals on issues of reform of the Roman Curia.[citation needed]
Tomko became the oldest living member of theCollege of Cardinals upon the death of CardinalAlbert Vanhoye on 29 July 2021.[17]
Tomko died in Rome on 8 August 2022, at the age of 98. He had recently suffered a spinal injury, and was further weakened from COVID-19 complications.[18][19][20] On 16 August 2022, he was buried, per his wishes, in theCathedral of St. Elisabeth of Hungary inKošice.[21]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Position created | Adjunct Secretary of theInternational Theological Commission 1969–1971 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Goffredo Mariani | Undersecretary of theCongregation for Bishops 21 December 1974 – 12 July 1979 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Secretary General of theSynod of Bishops 12 July 1979 – 24 April 1985 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | — TITULAR — Titular Archbishop of Doclea 12 July 1979 – 25 May 1985 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prefect of theCongregation for the Evangelization of Peoples 24 April 1985 – 9 April 2001 | Succeeded by |
| Titular church established | Cardinal Deacon ofGesù Buon Pastore alla Montagnola 25 May 1985 – 29 January 1996 | Succeeded by |
| Office created | President of theInterdicasterial Commission for Consecrated Religious 18 March 1989 – 9 April 2001 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Cardinal Priest ofSanta Sabina 29 January 1996 – 8 August 2022 | Vacant |
| Preceded by | President of thePontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses 23 October 2001 – 1 October 2007 | Succeeded by |
| Records | ||
| Preceded by | Oldest living cardinal 29 July 2021 – 8 August 2022 | Succeeded by |
