Czech cardinal-designate was famous preacher during communist era

Published: 2003-10-15

ROME (CNS) -- Despite the efforts of Czechoslovakia's communist rulers to control religious expression, Cardinal-designate Tomas Spidlik became a famous preacher in his homeland, broadcasting weekly sermons for Vatican Radio's Czech program beginning in 1951. His sermons were so popular they were collected and published as a book and translated into Polish, Romanian and Italian. The Czech Jesuit, who preached Pope John Paul II's Lenten retreat in 1995, was named to the College of Cardinals Sept. 28. He will receive his red hat at a Vatican consistory Oct. 21. The 83-year-old spiritual director and author of books and articles on Eastern Christian spirituality lives and works at Rome's Centro Aletti, a Jesuit-run community that hosts scholars and artists from Eastern Europe.

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