From a Special Correspondent CARDINAL Stefan Wyszynski will remain Archbishop of Gniezo and Warsaw and Primate of Poland "for an indefinite period", according to authoritative Vatican
A Vatican spokesman said: "Pope Paul thanked Cardinal Wyszynski for his letter of resignation but told him that he could not accept it at the present time, and asked him to remain in office."
Cardinal Wyszynski had sent his resignation in to the Pope on August 3 when he reached 75, the canonical age for retirement set by Pope Paul some years ago. Vatican sources said it was not usual for the Pope to make any announcement on resignations until he accepted them and named a successor. "Until then the Ordinary remains in office."
Cardinal Wyszynski's continuing in office meets the desires both of the Polish Episcopate and the Warsaw Government which, at the time his resignation was due, had petitioned the Vatican to maintain him in office.
While opposing the regime in demanding greater freedom of education for Polish Catholics and in openly denouncing government oppressions and failure to provide church and school facilities, the Cardinal has none the less succeeded in creating relations with the regime which enable the Church to operate with a greater measure of freedom than in any other East European Communist country. At the time the Cardinal's resignation was due there were reports that Pope Paul might consider Cardinal Karol Wojtyla as a successor in Gniezo and Warsaw.
Polish sources stressed the unusual honour done to this Cardinal by the Pope on two recent occasions: he was chosen to make the theological report to the 1974 Synod of Bishops and, last year, preached the Papal Lenten Sermon, normally done by a lowly, elderly priest.
There are also authoritative reports that Cardinal Wojtyla does not desire a transfer. He has told friends: "I am very happy in Krakow."