The unKNOWN Cardinal

We are pleased to present to you this publication accompanying the exhibition Mieczysław Halka-Ledóchowski – The unKNOWN Cardinal.

Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote in his Diary that fortunately Mieczysław Halka-Ledóchowski was not elected Pope in 1878 because as a Pole he would have devoted himself to resurrecting Poland. Otto von Bismarck considered Halka-Ledóchowski one of the most dangerous diplomats of Europe. Tomás de Mosquera plotted to assassinate him in South America. Halka-Ledóchowski was a papal emissary to Spain, Portugal, Ecuador, Bolivia, Panama and Belgium. He was the Archbishop of Gniezno and Poznań and the Primate of a country torn apart by foreign powers. He was a prisoner in a tower in Ostrów Wielkopolski, a Cardinal and a Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Propagation of Faith, and an uncle of St Urszula Ledóchowska, the blessed Teresa Ledóchowska and Servant of God Włodzimierz Ledóchowski. Even after his death, Emperor Wilhelm II dreaded the idea to bring his remains back to Poland.

A fascinating addition to this publication is Cardinal’s private correspondence from 1889-1902. In the letters we can find for example a portrayal of the wealthy and powerful of the time, and a fascinating description of both the great events of the era as well as of everyday matters such as worrying about finding the right butler. They provide valuable insight into life at the turn of the 20^th century.

You can buy this publication at Porta Posnania (ul. Gdańska 2) or order it by email (sklep[at]pcd.poznan.pl) or by phone (+48 61 647 76 00).