A Very Beautiful piece of history by Rev. Fr. Frank Taruwona SJ.
A PILGRIM OF HOPE: HONOURING CARDINAL KOZŁOWIECKI, THE FIRST ARCHBISHOP OF LUSAKA.
Exactly 80 years ago, on 29 April 1945, Cardinal Adam Kozłowiecki was liberated from the Dachau concentration camp by the 7th American Army. That day did not simply mark the end of his captivity; it ignited a future of purpose, unveiling a man shaped by the cruelties of war into a compassionate apostle of peace, empathy, and hope, the Polish Apostle to Africa.
Born on 1 April 1911, Kozłowiecki would later reflect humorously yet profoundly: “I was born on April Fool’s Day in 1911 as a subject of Emperor Franz Joseph in Austria-Hungary. Then I was a citizen of the Second Polish Republic. I don’t really know what my status was during World War II, because I didn’t need a passport to travel from Auschwitz to Dachau. After the war, in Northern Rhodesia, I became a citizen of the British Empire, and since the creation of Zambia, I have had a passport of that country. That is at least four citizenships.”
A citizen of the world, and indeed, of Zambia and Poland, this April 2025, we mark both the 114th anniversary of his birth and the 80th anniversary of his liberation. It also marks the anniversary of his arrival in Zambia (14 April 1946, 79 years ago). When Lusaka became an Archdiocese on the 25th of April 1959, he was appointed the first metropolitan Archbishop of the newly created archdiocese. Hence, April is a special month as we celebrate both the archdiocese and its first archbishop. This sacred overlap during the Jubilee Year of “Pilgrims of Hope” reminds us of the enduring power of faith over fear, love over hatred, and resilience over despair. Rather than allow suffering to turn him bitter, Cardinal Kozłowiecki emerged from the hell of Nazi persecution as a man whose life bore witness to radical compassion.
Through his mission, he not only shaped the development of the Catholic Church in Zambia but also significantly influenced the political and moral discourse of the newly created and independent nation of Zambia. He was awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of Freedom by the first President of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, for his contribution to the cause of freedom of Zambia.His deep humility and unwavering commitment to justice, education, and human dignity earned him a place not only in ecclesiastical history but in the heart of a people. He was also made a Commander of the Order of Merit by the Polish Government, and was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honour by the French Government. His contribution to freedom and dignity could not go unnoticed despite his immense humility, voluntarily pushing for and stepping down as the archbishop to give chance for an indigenous archbishop, and working for the rest of his life more than twenty years, as a “normal priest” (as he used to consider himself) mostly in the rural areas.
This year, we walk as Pilgrims of Hope, inspired by the journey of Cardinal Adam Kozłowiecki, a man whose body may have been imprisoned, but whose soul was never chained. His life calls us to believe: Even from the darkest prisons, light can emerge. Even from ashes, saints can rise. Even after venom, love can heal. He stated that the Concentration Camp experience was a spiritual training for his priesthood greater than the formal training which he got.
Let us carry his memory forward, not merely as history, but as a living call to resilience, a model of servant leadership, and a testament to hope born from suffering. As the Archdiocese of Lusaka has taken the initiative towards the beatification process of Cardinal Kozłowiecki, let’s engage in a historical series aimed at raising awareness regarding his remarkable life and legacy. This initiative will grow to encompass a broader reflection on the history of the Catholic Church in Zambia, the founding and evolution of the Lusaka Archdiocese, and the parallel development of Lusaka as a city during the same period.
This is more than a historical account. It is a story of courage, service, and inspiration. This is the Kozłowiecki Journey in the Jubilee Year. The Kozłowiecki Colloquies Series.