Michalik had served as a priest for 61 years and as a bishop for 39 years, most recently as Archbishop Metropolitan of Przemyśl.
He took up his first bishop role in 1986, leading the diocese of Gorzów in western Poland until 1993, when Pope John Paul II appointed him to the diocese of Przemyśl, where he served until 2016.
Michalik was also deputy head of the Polish Bishops’ Conference from 1999 to 2004, before serving two terms as its president from 2004 to 2014; from 2011 to 2014, he was also vice‑president of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences.
Vatican work and youth ministry
Born in Zambrów, northeastern Poland, Michalik was ordained a priest in 1964. He later studied in Warsaw and Rome.
During his career, he worked in Vatican institutions and was involved in youth ministry; the Przemyśl archdiocese said he helped prepare early international youth meetings with Pope John Paul II, which later developed into World Youth Day.
Michalik was also involved in efforts to promote reconciliation between Poland and neighboring countries, including Ukraine, Germany and Russia.
His funeral will be held on Saturday, May 9, at 11 a.m. in the Archcathedral Basilica in Przemyśl, after funeral liturgies that begin on Friday, and his body will be buried in the cathedral crypt.