August Hlond

August Hlond (5 July 1881 – 22 October 1948) was a Polish cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Archbishop of Gniezno and Primate of Poland from 1926 to 1948.

 Early life and education 
August Józef Hlond was born in Brzęczkowice, Kingdom of Prussia. He joined the Salesians of Don Bosco and was ordained a priest on 23 September 1905.

 Ecclesiastical career 
Hlond was appointed the first Bishop of Katowice in 1925. In 1926, he became the Archbishop of Gniezno and Poznań, and thus the Primate of Poland. He was made a cardinal by Pope Pius XI on 20 June 1927.

 Cardinalate 
As a cardinal, Hlond faced many challenges, including the rise of Nazi Germany and the outbreak of World War II. During the war, he fled to Rome and later to France, where he was arrested and interned by the Nazis. After the war, he returned to Poland and became the Archbishop of Warsaw in 1946.

 Legacy 
Cardinal Hlond was a strong opponent of both Nazi and Communist regimes. He is remembered for his efforts to preserve the independence of the Polish church. He passed away on 22 October 1948 in Warsaw and is buried in St. John's Archcathedral, Warsaw.

 References 

 Other websites 
 August Hlond at Catholic-Hierarchy.org

Category:1881 births
Category:1948 deaths
Category:Polish cardinals
Category:Polish Roman Catholic bishops