Zenon Grocholewski was born in
Bródki to Stanisław and Józefa (née Stawińska) Grocholewski. After studying at the archdiocesan
seminary of
Poznań, Grocholewski was
ordained to the priesthood on 27 May 1963 by Archbishop
Antoni Baraniak. He joined the staff of the
Apostolic Signatura in 1972. and he received his
episcopal consecration on the following 6 January from
Pope John Paul II, with Archbishops
Eduardo Martínez Somalo and
Duraisamy Lourdusamy serving as co-consecrators. John Paul promoted Grocholewski to the rank of
Archbishop on 16 December 1991. On 15 November 1999, John Paul appointed him Prefect of the
Congregation for Catholic Education. That position made him
ex officio Grand Chancellor of the
Pontifical Gregorian University. Grocholewski was created
Cardinal-Deacon of
San Nicola in Carcere by John Paul II in the
consistory of 21 January 2001. Grocholewski automatically lost his curial position on 2 April 2005 upon the death of Pope John Paul. He was confirmed in office by
Pope Benedict XVI on 21 April. He was one of the
cardinal electors who participated in the
2005 papal conclave that elected
Pope Benedict XVI. On 21 February 2011, he opted for the order of Cardinal Priest, with his former diaconal church elevated to the level of cardinalitial title. He participated in the
2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis. Grocholewski was a member of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the
Congregation for Bishops, the
Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, and the Special Council for Oceania of the
Synod of Bishops. Cardinal Grocholewski was also the papal envoy to the ceremonies marking the 400th anniversary of the founding of the
Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas in
Manila, the oldest university in Asia. On 31 March 2015, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal
Giuseppe Versaldi to succeed Grocholewski as Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education. Zenon Grocholewski died on 17 July 2020 at the age of 80. ==Academic career==