Rep. n° 20/2025
Prague, November 4, 2025. Today at three o’clock in the morning, the Lord of life, at the age of 82, called the emeritus Archbishop of Prague, Dominik Cardinal Duka OP, to eternity. The funeral mass will take place on Saturday, November 15 at 11:00 a.m. in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert. The book of condolences will be available from Tuesday, November 4 at 12:00 p.m. at the reception of the Archbishop’s Palace. Cardinal Dominik Duka has repeatedly been interested in issues of human rights and freedom in the world during his tenure. In his statements and sermons, he often reminded that human dignity is indivisible and must be protected regardless of religion, origin or political beliefs. He particularly advocated freedom of religion and drew attention to the persecution of Christians in various parts of the world. He also spoke out against totalitarian ideologies and reminded that the defense of human rights is one of the fundamental tasks of the church and democratic society. Throughout his episcopal service, he dealt with the Czech-Vatican Treaty.
Cardinal Duka was the holder of many decorations. He received, among others, the Order of the White Lion for “particularly outstanding services to the benefit of the Czech Republic” and the French Order of the Legion of Honour. He was also the holder of the oldest and highest Polish state decoration, the Order of the White Eagle. For his “services to interreligious dialogue at the international level, as well as for the promotion of Christian values,” was awarded the Memorial Medal of Tree of Peace, the high decoration of Servare et Manere.
On behalf of the Holy Father Leo XIV, Dominik Cardinal Duka OP became the papal legate for the jubilee celebrations of the Centenary of the Polish Diocese of Gdańsk. A papal legate is an envoy of the Holy See with a special mandate to represent the Pope to a local church, state or international organization. He is shown honours as a pope.
Exactly 10 years ago, Dominik Cardinal Duka OP, together with Tomáš Galis, Bishop of Žilina, blessed the Chapel of St. Lazarus of Bethany in Nová Bystrica, whose restoration project was initiated and developed by landscape architect Marek Sobola, founder of Servare et Manere. Architect Sobola also managed the entire restoration project, as well as the organization of the blessing ceremony of the chapel.
