Jozef Tomko

{{Short description|Slovak cardinal and archbishop (1924–2022)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = cardinal | honorific-prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Jozef Tomko | honorific-suffix = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | title = [[Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses|President Emeritus of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses]] | image = J.Em. Jozef kardinál Tomko.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Tomko in 2018 at Zvir Mountain in [[Litmanová]], Slovakia | appointed = 23 October 2001 | term = | term_start = | quashed = | term_end = 1 October 2007 | predecessor = [[Edouard Gagnon]] | opposed = | successor = [[Piero Marini]] | other_post = [[Santa Sabina|Cardinal-Priest of Santa Sabina]]  | ordination = 12 March 1949 | ordained_by = [[Luigi Traglia]] | consecration = 15 September 1979 | consecrated_by = [[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]] | cardinal = 25 May 1985 | created_cardinal_by = John Paul II | rank = [[Cardinal priest]]  | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1924|3|11|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Udavské]], [[First Czechoslovak Republic|Czechoslovakia]] | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2022|8|8|1924|3|11}} | death_place = [[Rome]], Italy | buried = [[St Elisabeth Cathedral]], [[Košice]] | nationality = Slovak | religion = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] | residence = | parents = | profession = | previous_post = {{Plainlist| * [[Titular Archbishop of Doclea]] (1979–1985) * [[Synod of Bishops (Catholic)|Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops]] (1979–1985) * [[Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples|Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]] (1985–2001) }} | education = | alma_mater = | motto = "''Ut ecclesia aedificetur''" | signature = | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Jozef Tomko.svg | coat_of_arms_alt =  | other = }} {{Infobox cardinal styles | cardinal name = Jozef Tomko | dipstyle = [[His Eminence]] | offstyle = Your Eminence | relstyle = | see = | image = Coat of arms of Jozef Tomko.svg | image_size = 200px }}

'''Jozef Tomko''' (11 March 1924 – 8 August 2022) was a Slovak prelate of the [[Catholic Church]] who held positions in the [[Roman Curia]] from 1962 until he retired in 2007. He was prefect of the [[Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]] from 1985 to 2001 and president of the [[Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses]] from 2001 to 2007. He was made a [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] in 1985.

==Biography==

===Early life and ordination=== Jozef Tomko was born 11 March 1924 in [[Udavské]], near [[Humenné]], in [[Czechoslovakia]] (now in [[Slovakia]]). In 1943 he entered the [[Theology|Theological]] [[Faculty (division)|Faculty]] of [[Bratislava]]. He was sent to Rome to study at the [[Pontifical Lateran University|Pontifical Lateran Athenaeum]] and [[Pontifical Gregorian University]], where he obtained his [[Doctor of Sacred Theology|doctorates in theology]], [[Doctor of Canon Law|canon law]], and [[Doctor of Social Science|social sciences]].<ref name=cna>{{cite web | url = https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/55148/tomko-jozef | title = Tomko, Jozef | publisher = Catholic News Agency | access-date = 15 July 2021}}</ref> Tomko was [[Holy Orders|ordained]] to the priesthood by [[Luigi Traglia|Archbishop Luigi Traglia]] on 12 March 1949 in the [[Archbasilica of St. John Lateran]].

===Pastoral and academic work=== He continued his studies at the Lateran and Gregorian University while doing pastoral work in Rome and [[Bishop of Porto and Santa-Rufina|Porto e Santa Rufina]] until 1979. From 1950 to 1965, he served as vice-[[Rector (ecclesiastical)|rector]] and later rector of the Pontifical Nepomucenum College.<ref name=cna/> He taught at the International University ''Pro 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.<ref name=santi>[http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/88179 "Card. Jozef Tomko", Holy See, 4 May 2004]</ref> Tomko for decades regularly addressed Slovak Catholics on Vatican Radio and also on Catholic TV Lux.{{cn|date=August 2022}}

===Roman Curia=== Tomko was raised to the rank of [[Monsignor|Privy Chamberlain supernumerary]] on 5 December 1959, and entered the service of the [[Roman Curia]] in 1962, as an adjunct in the [[Index Librorum Prohibitorum|Book Censorship Section]] of the [[Congregation 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".<ref>{{cite magazine | magazine = [[Time (magazine)|Time]] |url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,904729,00.html | archive-date= 21 August 2008 |url-status= live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080821064848/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,904729,00.html | title = No More Heresy | date= 15 February 1971}}</ref> During the [[Second 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 an [[Monsignor|Honorary Prelate of His Holiness]] on 17 June 1970. He was named Undersecretary of the [[Congregation for Bishops]] in 1974. He was a visiting professor at the Gregorian University from 1970 to 1977.

===Bishop=== On 12 July 1979, Tomko was appointed [[Secretary General]] of the [[Synod|World Synod of Bishops]] and [[Titular bishop|Titular Archbishop]] of Doclea by [[Pope John Paul II]].<ref>{{cite book | url =https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-71-1979-ocr.pdf | date = 1979 | volume = LXXI | page = 966 | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | access-date = 13 July 2021}}</ref> He received his [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|episcopal consecration]] on the following 15 September from John Paul.<ref>{{cite web | access-date = 14 July 2021 | url = https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/it/homilies/1979/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19790915_ordinaz-tomko.html | date = 15 September 1979 | language = it | publisher = Libreria Editrice Vaticana | title= Ordinazione Episcopale di Monsignor Josef Tomko }}</ref> On 18 October 1979 he became a member of the Pontifical Commission for the interpretation of the decrees of the Second Vatican Council.<ref>{{cite book | url =https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-71-1979-ocr.pdf | date = 1979 | volume = LXXI | page = 1368 | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | access-date = 13 July 2021}}</ref> Tomko was named Pro-Prefect of the [[Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]] on 24 April 1985<ref>{{cite book | url =https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-77-1985-ocr.pdf | date = 1985 | volume = LXXVII | page = 679 | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | access-date = 13 July 2021}}</ref> and Chancellor of the [[Pontifical Urbaniana University]].

===Cardinal=== John Paul II created him [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal-Deacon]] of [[Gesù Buon Pastore alla Montagnola]] in the [[Papal consistory|consistory]] of 25 May 1985.<ref>{{cite web | access-date = 14 July 2021 | url = https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/it/homilies/1985/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19850525_concistoro-unico.html | language = it | title = Consistoro Unico | publisher = Libreria Editrice Vaticana | date = 25 May 2021 }}</ref> He was then named prefect of his congregation.<ref>{{cite book | url =https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-77-1985-ocr.pdf | date = 1985 | volume = LXXVII | page = 675 | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | access-date = 13 July 2021}}</ref> During his tenure, he became a close [[confidant]] of Pope John Paul, and served as a special [[Papal legate|papal 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 of [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal Priests]] and assumed the [[Titulus (Roman Catholic)|titular church]] of [[Santa Sabina|S. Sabina]] on 29 January 1996.<ref>{{cite book | access-date = 14 July 2021 | url = https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-88-1996-ocr.pdf | title = Acta Apostolicae Sedis | date = 1996 | volume = LXXXVIII | pages= 226–7 }}</ref>

===Eucharistic congresses=== Tomko was appointed President of the [[Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses]] on 23 October 2001.<ref>{{cite press release | language = it | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2001/10/23/0582/01696.html | date= 23 October 2001 | access-date = 14 July 2021 | publisher = Holy See Press Office | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 23.10.2001 }}</ref> In this post, he presided over the [[Holy See]]'s delegation to the Interreligious Congress in [[Astana]], [[Kazakhstan]], from 23 to 24 September 2003. As papal legate he chaired the 48th International Eucharistic Congress in [[Guadalajara]], [[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 by [[Pope Benedict XVI]] on 21 April.<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2005/04/21/0231/00468.html | language = it | access-date = 14 July 2021 | date = 21 April 2005 | title = Nomine e Confirme nella Curia Romana, 21.04.2005}}</ref> Tomko retired as president on 1 October 2007.<ref>{{cite press release | language = it | publisher= Holy See Press Office | access-date = 14 June 2022| url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2007/10/01/0506/01353.html | date = 1 October 2007 | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 01.10.2007}}</ref>

===Later work=== [[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 and [[Salvatore De Giorgi]].<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 13 July 2021 | language = it | title = Notificazione dello Segretaria del Stato, 24.07.2014 | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2012/04/25/0236/00547.html }}</ref>

At the [[papal inauguration]] of [[Pope Francis]] on 19 March 2013, Tomko was one of the six cardinals who made the public act of obedience on behalf of the [[College of Cardinals]] to the new pope.{{efn|The other five cardinals were [[Giovanni Battista Re]], [[Tarcisio Bertone]], [[Joachim Meisner]], [[Renato Martino|Renato Raffaele Martino]] and [[Francesco Marchisano]]. Re and Bertone represented the cardinal bishops; Martino and Marchisano represented the cardinal deacons; and Meisner and Tomko represented the cardinal priests.}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lastampa.it/2013/03/19/esteri/vatican-insider/it/il-giorno-di-papa-francesco-vfk0DkkHRblxoHmyjsM92K/pagina.html|title=Il giorno di Papa Francesco: La messa di inizio pontificato in Piazza San Pietro|language=it|date=19 March 2013|access-date=15 October 2013|first=Luca|last=Rolandi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808115732/http://www.lastampa.it/2013/03/19/esteri/vatican-insider/it/il-giorno-di-papa-francesco-vfk0DkkHRblxoHmyjsM92K/pagina.html|archive-date=8 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Inauguration video">{{YouTube|id=L8UkpJI-6hM|title=Inaugural Mass of the Pontificate (Vatican video of Pope Francis' papal inauguration}}</ref>

In February 2015 he attended the consistory of cardinals on issues of reform of the Roman Curia.{{cn|date=August 2022}}

Tomko became the oldest living member of the [[College of Cardinals]] upon the death of Cardinal [[Albert Vanhoye]] on 29 July 2021.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 31 July 2021 | language = de| url = https://www.katholisch.de/artikel/30754-wenige-tage-nach-geburtstag-aeltester-kardinal-der-welt-gestorben | date= 30 July 2021 | title = Wenige Tage nach Geburtstag: Ältester Kardinal der Welt gestorben | website = Katholische.de }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ucanews.com/news/oldest-member-of-college-of-cardinals-dies-at-98/98321 | title=Oldest member of College of Cardinals dies at 98 - UCA News }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | access-date = 8 August 2022 | language = sk| url = https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/636362-zomrel-kardikal-jozef-tomko/| date= 8 August 2022 | title = Zomrel kardinál Jozef Tomko, patril k najvplyvnejším ľuďom vo Vatikáne| website = spravy.pravda.sk}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=8 August 2022|title=Cardinal Jozef Tomko dies at 98|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2022-08/cardinal-jozef-tomko-98-evangelization-of-peoples-slovakia.html|work=[[Vatican News]]|access-date=8 August 2022}}</ref> On 16 August 2022, he was buried, per his wishes, in the [[St Elisabeth Cathedral|Cathedral of St. Elisabeth of Hungary]] in [[Košice]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holubčíková |first=Jana |title=Miesto posledného odpočinku / Telo kardinála Tomka uložia do pôvodne stredovekej krypty, vedú z nej katakomby |url=https://svetkrestanstva.postoj.sk/112191/telo-kardinala-tomka-ulozia-do-povodne-stredovekej-krypty-vedu-z-nej-katakomby |access-date=2022-08-17 |website=svetkrestanstva.postoj.sk |language=sk}}</ref>

==Selected works== * ''Light of Nations'' (Rome 1972) * ''On Missionary Roads'', 2007, {{ISBN|978-1586171650}}

==Honours== * Grand-Croix de l'Ordre de la Couronne de Chene (Luxembourg 1988)<ref>[http://www.osobnosti.sk/osobnost/jozef-kardinal-tomko-1093 "J. Em. Mons. Cardinal Jozef Tomko", Conference of Slovak Bishops]</ref> * Grand Cross (or 1st Class) of the [[Order of the White Double Cross]] (1995)<ref>Slovak republic website, [http://www.slovak-republic.org/symbols/honours/ State honours] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413004835/http://www.slovak-republic.org/symbols/honours/ |date=13 April 2016 }} : 1st Class received in 1995 (click on "Holders of the Order of the 1st Class White Double Cross" to see the holders' table)</ref> * Grand Cruz de la Orden del Libertador San Martín, Argentina (Buenos Aires 1999). * The Catholic University of Ruzomberok awarded Cardinal Tomko the honorary title of ''Doctor Honoris Causa'' on 26 April 2006.<ref>[http://www.ku.sk/index.php?option=com_comprofiler&task=userprofile&user=1770 "J. Em. Cardinal Jozef Tomko, Dr. hc KU", Catholic University in Ruzomberok] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717072721/http://www.ku.sk/index.php?option=com_comprofiler&task=userProfile&user=1770 |date=17 July 2012 }}</ref> * Honorary doctorate awarded by the Faculty of Medicine of Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice for contribution to the development of culture, education and humanity in Slovakia, (11 December 2001) * The Golden Plaque of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic (2009)<ref>[http://www.mzv.sk/servlet/content?MT=/App/WCM/main.nsf/vw_ByID/ID_C0B1D004B5A332B2C1257627003301E7_EN&OpenDocument=Y&LANG=EN&TG=BlankMaster&URL=/App/WCM/Aktualit.nsf/(vw_ByID)/ID_FF4818D345A6A622C1257ABE00256424 "State Secretary Peter Javorčík received Cardinal Jozef Tomko, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples", Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, 21 November 2012]{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Notes== {{Notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons}} {{wikiquote}} * {{cite web| access-date = 9 November 2017| title= Tomko Card. Jozef |publisher= [[Holy See Press Office]] | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_tomko_j.html | url-status=live | archive-date= 4 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070640/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_tomko_j.html }} *[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/btomko.html Catholic-Hierarchy] *[https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios-t.htm#Tomko Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church]

{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-break}} {{s-non|reason=Position created}} {{s-ttl|title=Adjunct Secretary of the [[International Theological Commission]]|years=1969–1971}} {{s-aft|after=[[Jozef Zlatňanský]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=Goffredo Mariani}} {{s-ttl|title=Undersecretary of the [[Congregation for Bishops]]|years=21 December 1974 – 12 July 1979}} {{s-aft|after=[[Marcello Costalunga]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Władysław Rubin]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Secretary General of the [[Synod of Bishops in the Catholic Church|Synod of Bishops]]|years=12 July 1979 – 24 April 1985}} {{s-aft|after=[[Jan Pieter Schotte]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Egano Righi-Lambertini]]}} {{s-tul|title=[[Titular Archbishop of Doclea]]|years=12 July 1979 – 25 May 1985}} {{s-aft|after=[[Pier Luigi Celata]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Dermot Ryan]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Prefect of the [[Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]]|years=24 April 1985 – 9 April 2001}} {{s-aft|after=[[Crescenzio Sepe]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-non|reason=Titular church established}} {{s-ttl|title=Cardinal Deacon of [[Gesù Buon Pastore alla Montagnola]]|years=25 May 1985 – 29 January 1996}} {{s-aft|after=[[Velasio De Paolis]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-non|reason=Office created}} {{s-ttl|title=President of the [[Interdicasterial Commission for Consecrated Religious]]|years=18 March 1989 – 9 April 2001}} {{s-aft|after=[[Crescenzio Sepe]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Gabriel-Marie Garrone]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Cardinal Priest of [[Santa Sabina]]|years=29 January 1996 – 8 August 2022}} {{s-vac}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Édouard Gagnon]]}} {{s-ttl|title=President of the [[Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses]]|years=23 October 2001 – 1 October 2007}} {{s-aft|after=[[Piero Marini]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-ach|rec}} {{s-bef|before=[[Albert Vanhoye]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Oldest living cardinal|years=29 July 2021 – 8 August 2022}} {{s-aft|after=[[Alexandre do Nascimento]]}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tomko, Jozef}} [[Category:1924 births]] [[Category:2022 deaths]] [[Category:People from Humenné District]] [[Category:Slovak cardinals]] [[Category:Members of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope John Paul II]] [[Category:Pontifical Gregorian University alumni]] [[Category:Pontifical Lateran University alumni]] [[Category:Czechoslovak expatriates in Italy]] [[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Liberator General San Martin]] [[Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Lazio]]