Ledochowski, Miecislaus, Most Rev. Cardinal
Clergyman. Born in Gork, Poland, Oct. 29, 1822. In 1832 emigrated with his father to Italy. Educated in the Jesuit College of Nobles in Rome, Italy; was ordained priest in 1845 and a few years later went to the Spanish Province of Colombia, So. America. Expelled from Colombia. Was made an Archbishop in partibus infidelium. Appointed Nuncio at Brussels, Belgium in 1862 and in April 1866 became Archbishop of Posen, Poland. He was commanded to resign his functions, but resisted and refused to pay the fines imposed under the "May Laws" in Germany. His property was attached and since that was insufficient, he was imprisoned on Feb. 3, 1874 and deprived of his archiepiscopal functions. Pius IX retorted by making him a cardinal while he was still in prison; later took refuge in Rome where the Pope gave him asylum. To make religious peace with Germany possible, he resigned his diocese into the hands of the Pope and was appointed Secretary of Apostolic Briefs. Author of a prayer book, "Dunina," which is very popular with the Poles. Deceased.From: "Who's Who in Polish America" by Rev. Francis Bolek, Editor-in-Chief; Harbinger House, New York, 1943