Cyril Vasiľ
Encyclopedia
Archbishop
Cyril Vasiľ, S.J., (born 10 April 1965) is a Slovak Jesuit
priest, professor and Rector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute
. He was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
(7 May 2009) and ordained bishop of the (titular) see of Ptolemais in Libya (14 June 2009).
Vasiľ was born in Košice
, Slovakia
. From 1982 to 1987 he attended the Faculty of Theology of Cyril and Methodius
in Bratislava
. He was ordained priest for the Byzantine 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.
In 2002 he was elected Dean of the Faculty of Eastern Canon Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute and pro-rector
, and in May 2007 rector, the first member of the Byzantine Catholic Church to hold that post.
He was a Consultor of 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 assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist that was held in 2005. He was also a professor
in the Pontifical Gregorian University
in Rome, the Theological Faculty of the University of Bratislava
and the University of Trnava
. In 2003 he was appointed Spiritual Director of the Union Internationale des Guides et Scouts d′Europe. He served as Spiritual Director of this traditional faith-based Scouting organization until 2007.
In addition to Slovak, he knows Latin, Italian, English, Russian, Ukrainian, French, German, Polish, Spanish, Greek and Old Church Slavonic
.
He is the author of numerous books and articles and has worked with Vatican Radio
.
On 7 May 2009, Pope Benedict XVI
appointed him Titular Archbishop of Ptolemais in Libya and Secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
, a department of the Roman Curia
headed by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri
. He succeeded Antonio Maria Vegliò
, who on 28 February 2009 had become President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants
.
On 21 January 2010 he was appointed as a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
in addition to his duties at the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Cyril Vasiľ, S.J., (born 10 April 1965) is a Slovak Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
priest, professor and Rector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute
Pontifical Oriental Institute
The Pontifical Oriental Institute is the premier center for the study of Eastern Christianity in Rome, Italy....
. He was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Congregation for the Oriental Churches
The Congregation for the Oriental Churches is the dicastery of the Roman Curia responsible for contact with the Eastern Catholic Churches for the sake of assisting their development, protecting their rights and also maintaining whole and entire in the one Catholic Church, alongside the liturgical,...
(7 May 2009) and ordained bishop of the (titular) see of Ptolemais in Libya (14 June 2009).
Vasiľ was born in Košice
Košice
Košice is a city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
. From 1982 to 1987 he attended the Faculty of Theology of Cyril and Methodius
Saints Cyril and Methodius
Saints Cyril and Methodius were two Byzantine Greek brothers born in Thessaloniki in the 9th century. They became missionaries of Christianity among the Slavic peoples of Bulgaria, Great Moravia and Pannonia. Through their work they influenced the cultural development of all Slavs, for which they...
in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
. He was ordained priest for the Byzantine Catholic Church in 1987. In 1989 he obtained the licentiate
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
in canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
On 15 October 1990 he entered the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
and in 2001 made his solemn profession
Profession (religious)
The term religious profession is defined in the 1983 Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church in relation to members of religious institutes as follows:By religious profession members make a public vow to observe the three evangelical counsels...
. In 1994 he obtained a doctorate in Eastern Canon Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute.
In 2002 he was elected Dean of the Faculty of Eastern Canon Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute and pro-rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
, and in May 2007 rector, the first member of the Byzantine Catholic Church to hold that post.
He was a Consultor of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Congregation for the Oriental Churches
The Congregation for the Oriental Churches is the dicastery of the Roman Curia responsible for contact with the Eastern Catholic Churches for the sake of assisting their development, protecting their rights and also maintaining whole and entire in the one Catholic Church, alongside the liturgical,...
, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , previously known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition , and after 1904 called the Supreme...
, and the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants
Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants
The Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants is a dicastery of the Roman Curia...
. He was appointed an expert to the assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist that was held in 2005. He was also a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
in the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
in Rome, the Theological Faculty of the University of Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
and the University of Trnava
Trnava
Trnava is a city in western Slovakia, 47 km to the north-east of Bratislava, on the Trnávka river. It is the capital of a kraj and of an okres . It was the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishopric . The city has a historic center...
. In 2003 he was appointed Spiritual Director of the Union Internationale des Guides et Scouts d′Europe. He served as Spiritual Director of this traditional faith-based Scouting organization until 2007.
In addition to Slovak, he knows Latin, Italian, English, Russian, Ukrainian, French, German, Polish, Spanish, Greek and Old Church Slavonic
Old Church Slavonic
Old Church Slavonic or Old Church Slavic was the first literary Slavic language, first developed by the 9th century Byzantine Greek missionaries Saints Cyril and Methodius who were credited with standardizing the language and using it for translating the Bible and other Ancient Greek...
.
He is the author of numerous books and articles and has worked with Vatican Radio
Vatican Radio
Vatican Radio is the official broadcasting service of the Vatican.Set up in 1931 by Guglielmo Marconi, today its programs are offered in 47 languages, and are sent out on short wave , medium wave, FM, satellite and the Internet. The Jesuit Order has been charged with the management of Vatican...
.
On 7 May 2009, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
appointed him Titular Archbishop of Ptolemais in Libya and Secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Congregation for the Oriental Churches
The Congregation for the Oriental Churches is the dicastery of the Roman Curia responsible for contact with the Eastern Catholic Churches for the sake of assisting their development, protecting their rights and also maintaining whole and entire in the one Catholic Church, alongside the liturgical,...
, a department of the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
headed by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri
Leonardo Sandri
Leonardo Sandri is a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches in the Roman Curia, having previously served as Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela , Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico and Substitute for General Affairs...
. He succeeded Antonio Maria Vegliò
Antonio Maria Vegliò
Antonio Maria Vegliò is an Italian Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church, who has served as Vatican diplomat and in the Roman Curia...
, who on 28 February 2009 had become President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants
Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants
The Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants is a dicastery of the Roman Curia...
.
On 21 January 2010 he was appointed as a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity origins are associated with the Second Vatican Council which met intermittently from 1962–1965.Pope John XXIII wanted the Catholic Church to engage in the contemporary ecumenical movement...
in addition to his duties at the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.