On August 28, 2018, Archbishop Szczepan Wesoły died in Rome at the age of 92. He was tireless guardian and shepherd of Polonia around the world, devoted patriot and son of the upper Silesian land. He was beloved shepherd of Poles in exile and a close associate of John Paul II.
For many years, he was a Chairman of the Administrative Council of the John Paul II Foundation. He contributed to dissemination and learning of John Paul II teachings in the places where the John Paul II Foundation Chapters are active.
For his service among emigrants, he received multiple awards: Order of the White Eagle, Doctor Honoris Causa of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin and the University of Silesia, the Order of Polonia Restituta, the Golden Laurel of Polonia, and Lux Ex Silesia. He was also an honorary citizen of Katowice.
In accordance with his last wish, his body was placed in the crypt of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Katowice.
Remembering the late archbishop Szczepan Wesoły, bishop Lechowicz in his homily emphasized that he derived from the relationship with Christ “motivation and wisdom to establish relationships with others”. He said that archbishop Wesoły “treated all Poles living outside the borders of his native country as his own family”, “he was interested in everyone life, he knew both lay and clergy by name. He talked about them with love and passion, and they responded with similar feelings, talking about archbishop Wesoły as “our bishop.” It was mutual love, true friendship”, he said.
