# Miloslav Vlk > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Miloslav_Vlk > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Miloslav_Vlk.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miloslav_Vlk > Source revision: 1354648455 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Czech prelate Miloslav Vlk Cardinal Archbishop of Prague Cardinal Vlk in 2012 Church Roman Catholic Archdiocese Prague Installed 1 June 1991 Term ended 13 February 2010 Predecessor František Tomášek Successor Dominik Duka Other post Cardinal-Priest of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme Previous post Bishop of České Budĕjovice (1990-1991) Orders Ordination 23 June 1968 Consecration 31 March 1990 Created cardinal 26 November 1994 by John Paul II Rank Cardinal-Priest Personal details Born (1932-05-17)17 May 1932 Líšnice, Sepekov, Czechoslovakia Died 18 March 2017(2017-03-18) (aged 84) Prague, Czech Republic Motto Ut Omnes Unum Sint ("That All May Be One") Coat of arms **Miloslav Vlk** (Czech: [\[ˈmɪloslaf ˈvl̩k\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Czech); 17 May 1932 – 18 March 2017) was a Czech prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as [Archbishop of Prague](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Prague) from 1991 to 2010. He was made a [cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholic_Church)) in 1994. He was also the President of the [Council of European Bishops' Conferences](/source/Council_of_European_Bishops'_Conferences) (1993–2001). ## Early life Vlk was born in Líšnice, a municipal part of the market town of [Sepekov](/source/Sepekov), in the [Písek District](/source/P%C3%ADsek_District) of [Southern Bohemia](/source/Southern_Bohemia). He spent his childhood in [Záluží](/source/Z%C3%A1lu%C5%BE%C3%AD_(Beroun_District)) near [Chyšky](/source/Chy%C5%A1ky), where he attended elementary school and experienced the hard labour of farm work. At the age of 11, he first started thinking about the priesthood. This initial idea of a priestly vocation came to him because he felt particularly challenged by a poster hanging in his parish church that continued to attract his attention. The poster said: 'Wouldn't you like to become a priest?'. That goal seemed unattainable at the time, so he dreamed of becoming an aircraft pilot. On 20 June 1952 he passed his final examination at Secondary School in [České Budějovice](/source/%C4%8Cesk%C3%A9_Bud%C4%9Bjovice), Southern Bohemia. In those years of Communist persecution theological studies were impossible, so from 1952 to 1953 he worked at the Motor Union automobile factory in České Budějovice and from 1953 to 1955 did military service in [Karlovy Vary](/source/Karlovy_Vary). Despite the political situation, after being discharged he was able to study archival science at the Arts Faculty of the Charles University in Prague and received his degree in 1960. He worked in various archives in Southern Bohemia: at the Regional Archives of [Třeboň](/source/T%C5%99ebo%C5%88) in [Jindřichův Hradec](/source/Jind%C5%99ich%C5%AFv_Hradec), and from December 1960 to 1964 at the Civic and District Archives of České Budějovice, where he served as director. In this same period he published a series of articles in various scientific reviews. In 1964 he left this work in order to study at the Theology Faculty of [Saints Cyril and Methodius](/source/Saints_Cyril_and_Methodius) in Litoměřice (1964–1968). ## Priesthood On 23 June 1968, during the '[Prague Spring](/source/Prague_Spring)', he was ordained a priest at the age of 36 and was immediately appointed secretary to Bishop [Josef Hlouch](/source/Josef_Hlouch) of České Budějovice (1968–1971). The state authorities, worried about his influence and pastoral activity, forced him in 1971 to leave České Budějovice and sent him to the parishes of Lažiště and Záblatí, isolated on the mountains of the [Bohemian Forest](/source/Bohemian_Forest) in the [Prachatice](/source/Prachatice) district. From 1 November 1972 he was parish priest in [Rožmitál pod Třemšínem](/source/Ro%C5%BEmit%C3%A1l_pod_T%C5%99em%C5%A1%C3%ADnem) and at the same time in Bohutín and [Drahenice](/source/Drahenice), in the [Příbram](/source/P%C5%99%C3%ADbram) district. There in 1978, the state authorities, in collaboration with the local communists, revoked his state authorization to exercise his priestly ministry. Citizen Vlk was thus forced to live underground in Prague from October 1978 to 31 December 1988. From 1978 to 1986 he worked as a window-cleaner in downtown Prague. In this period he secretly carried out his pastoral activity with small groups of lay people. From 1986 to 1988 he was able to work in the district archives of the Czechoslovak State Bank in Prague. On 1 January 1989, at the start of the 'turning point', he was permitted to exercise the priestly ministry for a 'trial' year. He became parish priest at [Žihobce](/source/%C5%BDihobce) and [Bukovník](/source/Bukovn%C3%ADk) in the [Klatovy](/source/Klatovy) region of Western Bohemia. Subsequently, on 1 September 1989, he began to work as a curate on the [Bavarian](/source/Bavaria) (German) border: at [Čachrov](/source/%C4%8Cachrov), Javorná, [Železná Ruda](/source/%C5%BDelezn%C3%A1_Ruda), [Běšiny](/source/B%C4%9B%C5%A1iny) and Stráž na Šumavě. ## Episcopacy and Cardinalate Styles of Miloslav Vlk Reference style His Eminence Spoken style Your Eminence Informal style Cardinal See Prague (emeritus) The "[Velvet Revolution](/source/Velvet_Revolution)" changed the status of the church in Czechoslovakia and on 14 February 1990 Pope John Paul II appointed Vlk [Bishop of České Budějovice](/source/Bishop_of_%C4%8Cesk%C3%A9_Bud%C4%9Bjovice) and he was consecrated on 31 March 1990 from Bishop Antonín Liška. On 27 March 1991 [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II) appointed Vlk Archbishop of Prague to succeed Cardinal [František Tomášek](/source/Franti%C5%A1ek_Tom%C3%A1%C5%A1ek). He was installed on 1 June 1991. He was made a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II in the [Consistory](/source/Papal_consistory) of 26 November 1994, becoming the [Cardinal-Priest](/source/Cardinal-Priest) of [Santa Croce in Gerusalemme](/source/Santa_Croce_in_Gerusalemme). In 1992 he was elected President of the Czech Episcopal Conference; a role that he held until 2001. From 16 April 1993 until 31 May 2001 [Archbishop](/source/Archbishop) Vlk was President of the [Council of European Episcopal Conferences](/source/Council_of_European_Episcopal_Conferences) (CCEE), as the successor to [Carlo Maria Martini](/source/Carlo_Maria_Martini), Archbishop of [Milan](/source/Milan), Italy. Special Secretary of the 1st Special Assembly for Europe of the [Synod of Bishops](/source/Synod_of_Bishops_(Catholic)) (1991); and has taken part in the 9th [General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops](/source/General_Assembly_of_the_Synod_of_Bishops) (1994) and in the 2nd Special Assembly for Europe (1999). Between 1992 and 1993 he received three honorary degrees: one each from [Illinois Benedictine College](/source/Illinois_Benedictine_College) and the [University of St. Thomas](/source/University_of_St._Thomas_(Minnesota)) in the U.S., and a doctorate in theology from the Faculty of [Passau](/source/Passau). In addition to these academic awards he has also received various honorary citizenships. Cardinal Vlk died, after a long illness on 18 March 2017.[1] Vlk was one of the [cardinal electors](/source/Cardinal_electors_in_Papal_conclave%2C_2005) who participated in the [2005 papal conclave](/source/Papal_conclave%2C_2005) that selected [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI). Vlk reached age 80 on 17 May 2012 and lost the right to participate in any papal conclave and on the same day he ceased to hold his various Curial memberships. He was a member of the following dicasteries of the Roman Curia: - Oriental Churches (congregation) - Social Communications (council) - Special Council for Europe of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops Pope Benedict XVI accepted Cardinal Vlk's resignation as Archbishop of Prague on 13 February 2010 and nominated [Dominik Duka](/source/Dominik_Duka) to succeed him. Vlk served for 18 years as Moderator of the Bishop-Friends of the [Focolare Movement](/source/Focolare_Movement). On 10 August 2012, he was succeeded in this position by [Monsignor](/source/Monsignor) [Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovitvanit](/source/Francis_Xavier_Kriengsak_Kovitvanit), the [Metropolitan Archbishop](/source/Metropolitan_Archbishop) of the [Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangkok](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Bangkok) in [Bangkok](/source/Bangkok), Thailand.[2] ## Views ### Church properties in the Czech Republic Vlk has fought a decade-long battle to work out a new legal framework for the Catholic Church in the Czech Republic, which would include resolution of some $6 billion in church property confiscated under the Communists and never returned. That includes almost a million acres (4,000 km²) of forest which formed the church's traditional economic base.[3] ### Political groups Vlk has been sharply critical of the rise of far-right and xenophobic sentiment in Central Europe, joining Jewish protests in 2007 when right-wingers planned a march through Prague's Jewish quarter on the anniversary of Kristallnacht.[3] On the 41st anniversary of the [Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia](/source/Warsaw_Pact_invasion_of_Czechoslovakia), Cardinal Vlk called for the ban of the [Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia](/source/Communist_Party_of_Bohemia_and_Moravia), which was then the third most popular political party in the Czech Republic according to opinion polls.[4] ### Conflict with Lefebvrites In 2006, Vlk criticized a group of [Lefebvrite](/source/Marcel_Lefebvre) traditionalists who held a conference in Prague, accusing them of sympathies for "anti-Semitism and neo-Nazism". Local organizers responded that Vlk showed "ill will to socially ostracize Catholics who point to the negative consequences of liberalization processes in the church."[3] ## See also [Portals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals): - [Biography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Biography) - [Catholicism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Catholicism) - [Czech Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Czech_Republic) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Former Head of Czech Roman Catholic Church Miloslav Vlk Dies at 84"](http://www.radio.cz/en/section/news/former-head-of-czech-roman-catholic-church-miloslav-vlk-dies-at-84). Radio Praha. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["ZENIT - Bangkok Archbishop Named Moderator for Focolare Bishop-Friends"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120815023425/http://www.zenit.org/article-35357?l=english). Archived from [the original](http://www.zenit.org/article-35357?l=english) on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Winter_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Winter_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Winter_3-2) [The German shepherd bids farewell to a 'wolf in winter'](http://ncronline.org/news/german-shepherd-bids-farewell-wolf-winter) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["ODS: Czech left wing underestimates Russia's ambitions"](http://praguemonitor.com/2009/08/24/ods-czech-left-wing-underestimates-russias-ambitions). Prague Monitor. 24 August 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2009.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*] ## External links Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Miloslav Vlk](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Miloslav_Vlk)***. Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Miloslav Vlk](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Miloslav_Vlk). Religious titles Preceded by František Tomášek Archbishop of Prague 1991–2010 Succeeded by Dominik Duka v t e Cardinals created by John Paul II 1979 Casaroli Caprio Cé Righi-Lambertini Căn Civardi Corripio y Ahumada Asajiro Satowaki Etchegaray Ballestrero Ó Fiaich Carter Macharski Rubin Kung Pin-mei 1983 Khoraish Yago Sabattani Kuharić Casoria Lebrún Moratinos Bernardin Kitbunchu do Nascimento López Trujillo Danneels Williams Martini Lustiger Glemp Vaivods Meisner de Lubac 1985 Dadaglio Lourdusamy Arinze Fresno Innocenti Obando y Bravo Mayer Suquía Goicoechea Hamer Vidal Gulbinowicz Tzadua Tomko Lubachivsky Deskur Poupard Vachon Decourtray Castillo Lara Wetter Piovanelli Simonis Gagnon Stickler Law O'Connor Biffi Pavan 1988 Martínez Somalo Silvestrini Felici Grégoire Padiyara Freire Falcão Giordano dos Santos Canestri Javierre Ortas Pimenta Revollo Bravo Clancy Moreira Neves Hickey Szoka Paskai Tumi Groër Martin Hensbach Sladkevičius Margéot Wu 1991 Sodano Todea Laghi Cassidy Coffy Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi López Rodríguez Sanchez Noè Quarracino Angelini Mahony Posadas Ocampo Bevilacqua Saldarini Daly Ruini Korec Schwery Sterzinsky del Mestri Dezza 1994 Sfeir Vlk Poggi Shirayanagi Fagiolo Furno Oviedo Cavada Winning Suárez Rivera Ortega y Calamino Darmaatmadja Schotte Eyt Agustoni Wamala Keeler Vargas Alzamora Turcotte Carles Gordó Maida Puljić Razafindratandra Tụng Sandoval Íñiguez Echeverría Ruiz Świątek Tonini Koliqi Congar Grillmeier 1998 Medina Estévez Bovone Castrillón Hoyos Antonelli Stafford De Giorgi Fernandes de Araújo Rouco Varela Ambrozic Balland Tettamanzi Pengo Schönborn Rivera Carrera George Shan Kuo-hsi Kozłowiecki Cheli Colasuonno Monduzzi Jaworski Pujats 2001 Re Thuận Cacciavillan Sebastiani Grocholewski Saraiva Martins Sepe Mejía Daoud Pompedda Kasper Degenhardt González Zumárraga Dias Majella Agnelo Rubiano Sáenz McCarrick Connell Bačkis Errázuriz Ossa Terrazas Sandoval Napier Rodríguez Maradiaga Agré Billé Velasco Cipriani Thorne Álvarez Martínez Hummes Vithayathil Bergoglio Policarpo Poletto Murphy-O'Connor Egan Huzar Lehmann Ghattas Honoré Tucci Scheffczyk Dulles 2003 Tauran Martino Marchisano Herranz Casado Lozano Barragán Hamao Nicora Scola Okogie Panafieu Zubeir Wako Amigo Vallejo Rigali O'Brien Scheid Antonelli Bertone Turkson Toppo Pell Bozanić Mẫn Quezada Toruño Barbarin Erdő Ouellet Cottier Joos Špidlík Nagy Catholic Church portal Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States France BnF data Italy Czech Republic Spain Portugal Netherlands Poland Vatican People DDB Other IdRef Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Miloslav Vlk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miloslav_Vlk) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miloslav_Vlk?action=history)). 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