Cyril Vasiľ

The Most Reverend

Cyril Vasiľ

S.J.
Eparchial Archbishop-Bishop of Slovak Catholic Eparchy of Košice
Appointed7 May 2009
Other post(s)Pontifical Delegate to the Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam–Angamaly
Previous post(s)Secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches (2009–2020)
Orders
Ordination14 June 1987
by Slavomir Miklovš
Consecration14 June 2009
by Slavomir Miklovš
Personal details
Born
Cyril Vasiľ

(1965-04-10) 10 April 1965 (age 59)
Košice, Czechoslovakia
NationalitySlovak
MottoParati Semper - ready always
Coat of armsCoat of arms
Styles of
Cyril Vasil
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleMonsignor

Cyril Vasiľ, S.J. (born 10 April 1965) is a Slovak Jesuit prelate who has served as Eparch of Košice in the Slovak Greek Catholic Church since June 2021, after serving as apostolic administrator there for 16 months. He holds the personal title of archbishop.

Vasil held leadership positions at the Pontifical Oriental Institute from 2002 to 2008. He was made a titular archbishop in 2009 and held that title while serving as secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches from 2009 to 2020 and while apostolic administrator of Košice.

In July 2023, he was named Pontifical Delegate to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam–Angamaly in hopes of ending the ongoing liturgical dispute there.

Biography

Vasiľ was born in Košice, Slovakia, on 10 April 1965. From 1982 to 1987, he attended the Faculty of Theology of Cyril and Methodius in Bratislava.[1] He was ordained priest for the Slovak Greek Catholic Church in 1987. In 1989, he obtained the licentiate in canon law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. On 15 October 1990, he entered the Society of Jesus and in 2001 made his solemn profession. In 1994 he obtained a doctorate in Eastern Canon Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute.[1]

In 2002, he was elected dean and pro-rector of the Faculty of Eastern Canon Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute; in May 2007 he was selected rector.[1] He was the first member of the Slovak Greek Catholic Church to hold that post.[citation needed]

He was a Consultor to the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants. He was appointed an expert to the 2005 Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist. He was also a professor in the Pontifical Gregorian University, the Theological Faculty of the University of Bratislava and the University of Trnava.[1] In 2003, he was appointed Spiritual Director of the Union Internationale des Guides et Scouts d′Europe.[2][3][4][5] He served as Spiritual Director of this traditional faith-based scouting organization until 2007.[5]

On 7 May 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Titular Archbishop of Ptolemais in Libya and Secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.[1][6] He received his episcopal consecration on 14 June 2009 from Slavomir Miklovš, Bishop Emeritus of Križevci, Croatia.[7]

On 21 January 2010, he was named a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.[8]

On 20 January 2020, he was named Apostolic administrator sede plena of the Slovak Catholic Eparchy of Košice,[9] following a private audience with Pope Francis on 18 January.[10] After bishop Milan Chautur resigned on 24 June 2021, Pope Francis named him second eparchial bishop of Eparchy of Košice, while allowed him to use title of archbishop.[11]

On 31 July 2023, Pope Francis named him Pontifical Delegate to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam–Angamaly and charged him with studying and overcoming resistance to the adoption of a uniform liturgy.[12] He said he was not tasked with negotiating between the disputing parties but with implementing the liturgy adopted by the Syro-Malabar Synod.[13]

He is the author of numerous books and articles and has worked with Vatican Radio.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Rinunce e nomine, 07.05.2009" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 7 May 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Medzinárodná skautská akcia Euromoot 2007" (in Slovak). Tlacova kancelária konferencie biskupov slovenska. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  3. ^ "Boy scouts are a hundred years old!". ciNews The Webportal for Christians. Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  4. ^ "Le scoutisme a 100 ans : une alternative moderne pour la génération de la "PlayStation"" (in French). Catholique.org. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  5. ^ a b Günther Walter (2009). "Kurat der UIGSE zum Erzbischof ernannt". Pfadfinder Mariens (in German). 3/2009. Katholische Pfadfinderschaft Europas: 6–7.
  6. ^ Michala Hospodára. "Životopis a niekoľko dejstiev života nového vladyku Cyrila od o." (in Slovak). Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  7. ^ "Archbishop Cyril Vasil', S.J." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 21.01.2010" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 21 January 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 20.01.2020" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 20 January 2020. Archived from the original on 20 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Audiences, 18.01.2020" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  11. ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 24.06.2021" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Vatican delegate to 'solve' Indian church's liturgy row". UCA News. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  13. ^ Carvalho, Nirmala (10 August 2023). "Papal envoy's letter stirs fresh debate in Syro-Malabar Church". Crux. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
Preceded by Secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
7 May 2009 – 20 January 2020 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Eparchial Bishop of Košice
24 June 2021 – 		Succeeded by
Incumbent