Most Poles and Polish Americans are aware of the famous and well known Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz. He was the priest secretary that Bishop Karol Wojtyla chose in his Krakow days, because he was a good downhill skier and athlete, as well as a bright priest. Dziwisz is now the Cardinal in Krakow. However, few know about his American counterpart, Cardinal James Michael Harvey.
James attended high school and early college with me in Milwaukee at St. Francis De Sales. We befriended each other in language lab, where he insisted that, he would learn Italian and go to Rome. All of us thought that was great. James according to his mom was bright, read and wrote, well before other children his age. He was the eldest of five. James earned a scholarship to high school from his St. John de Nepomuc Elementary School on the north side of Milwaukee.
In high school, James worked on the school newspaper, student council, talent show, and in the library. He was on the debate team, while being a member of the National Honor Society, and later class valedictorian. He had a talented and effusive personality, a keen intellect with an intellectual capacity to learn more.
Once the Milwaukee Archdiocese Archbishop William Cousins sent James to live in the American College in Rome, and Rome kept him, it was clear he would be a leader there. Probably one of the central themes of James life is that he never calls attention to himself. He also has a dry sense of humor. James is a salt of the earth kind of person. He puts his shoes on one at time.
James obtained a degree in canonical law in Rome. On 29 June, 1975, he was ordained by Pope Pius VI, along with 359 priests to mark the twelfth anniversary of the pope’s election to the papal throne.
He studied at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy Rome and entered the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See on March 25, 1980. He was first the charge d’affaires or attaché in the Apostolic Nunciature of the Dominican Republic from 1980 to 1981. Later he was secretary from 1981 to 1982.
On July 10, 1982 James went to work at the Secretariat of State in the Vatican as Nunciature Counselor in the Section for Relation with States. He was name Assessor of General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, July 22, 1997 by Blessed John Paul II.
James was appointed Prefect of the Pontifical Household February 7, 1998. On 19 March 1998 Blessed John Paul II ordained James and Stanislaw Dziwisz bishops in St. Peter’s Basilica. James was named titular bishop of Memfi. The pope wanted to avoid Pope John Paul I, his predecessor’s secretaries being mishandled, after John Paul I’s untimely death.
James episcopal motto is Zelus Domus Tuae, which translated into English means “Zeal for Your House.” He held the position of Prefect of the Pontifical Household for 14 years. James restored the papal apartment in Castel Gandolfo, another room in the Vatican, and his own room, once the historical dwelling of Pope Julius II.
In 1999, James was decorated with the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Knight Grand Cross, by President Carol Azeglio Ciampi of Italy. He has the Gran Cruz de la Real Orden de Isabel La Catolica of Spain. James was promoted to the rank of archbishop 20 September 2003. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Peter’s Circle.
James did such a good job, that when Blessed Pope John Paul II died, his successor Pope Benedict XVI asked him to stay on. When Archbishop Dziwisz left to become Cardinal in Krakow, James continued on, working quietly, humbly and without fanfare.
For more than thirty years in the service of the Holy See, he is one of the best known figures in the life of the Church. As the second most photographed man in the Vatican, Excellency James was the one, who administrated the weekly audiences, arranged for the visits of heads of state, diplomats, and the famous. He accompanied Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI at all their private and public visits in the Vatican, Rome, and Italy.
James appears in so many of the papal photographs alongside the two popes he served. He spent 40 years in the Vatican City. His assistant now retains the position of Prefect of the Pontifical Household.
James also supervised the security, both the Swiss Guard, the oldest army in the world, and the Vatican version of the Secret Service, who guard the pope. He along with Stanislaw and a team of cardinals, priests, and laity modernized the Vatican City and made it fiscally solvent.
James has been working from behind the scenes, shunning personal attention, which he always reserved for the Pope and the Holy See. James has tremendous organizational ability and tremendous memory recall almost on the fly.
When I asked the Swiss Guards about James they commented, “We have a good connection with him.” In fact, his young nephew noted that every time he walks with James, the Swiss Guard saluted them. The nephew thought this was “cute.”
One of the jobs that James was successful in, was engendering the relationship of George Weigel and Blessed Pope John Paul II. George wrote the authorized biography of the Polish Pope, Witness for Hope, and its sequel The End and the Beginning: Pope John Paul II, The Victory of Freedom, the Last Years, the Legacy. On countless occasions in the Vatican and outside, James along with Stanislaw Dziwisz were the go-to secretaries and aides, so necessary in mobilizing the resources of the Vatican for the mission and goals of His Blessed Holiness John Paul II. And both Cardinals James and Stanislaw were successful beyond their dreams.
When Pope Benedict XVI needed someone to organize the Sanctification of Blessed Pope John Paul II in May of 2011, it was to James that he turned to. A close priest friend and another fellow classmate visited James just weeks before the event eighteen months ago. He said that James was exhausted, but persistent that all would go well. Other than Blessed Pope John Paul II’s funeral, it was one of the most highly attended events in the Vatican City.
James speaks French, German, Italian, Spanish and his native English. So it was no surprise to his family and friends when a month ago Pope Benedict XVI announced that there would be one of the smallest consistories in nearly a century, six new cardinals, and James was one of them.
Shortly after October 24 when Pope Benedict XVI announced that James would be elevated to rank of cardinal, Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki ordered a flower arrangement with tiny red cardinals for his mom, Ruth, a member of St. Margaret Mary Parish there, with a note, “Congratulations on giving birth to a cardinal.”
On 24 November at 11 AM James was given his red biretta or “hat,” the ring of a cardinal, and the deaconry of San Pio Va Villa Carpegna. Just like the United States Senate and its 100 members elected to 6 year terms as senators, being a cardinal is special because there are only 120, but they are elected for life, but only those below the age of 80 can vote in the election of a new pope.
Cardinals are the princes of the church. It’s a very select group. After the Consistory where cardinals are made, three different Nigerian colorfully dressed dance and vocal groups celebrated in St. Peter’s Square adding another unique flavor to the Church Universal.
On Sunday, 25 November, there was the Papal Mass at 9:30 AM with the six new cardinals from Columbia, India, Nigeria, Lebanon, and Philippines, all of the continents except Europe. James was the only one from North America. He gave the three page “thank you” at the beginning of the Mass, pledging their loyalty to the Roman Catholic Church.
James spoke in flawless Italian. I guess you would say he followed up on his promise made over 45 years ago to learn Italian and go to Rome in a very special way. In his speech, James noted that the color red of the robe and skull cap the cardinals wore is a sign of the blood of the martyrs that witnessed to Christ and His Church.
It was touching to see Jim’s eighty-seven year old, grey haired, diminutive mother receiving Holy Communion from the similarly elderly, silver haired Pope Benedict XVI. You could see in James mother’s eyes the memories flooding over her and the pride overwhelming her. She later mentioned that this was her now deceased husband’s birthday. James father, Robert, must be smiling down from heaven.
Four years back, at the homily James noted that his father’s first love was golf. Then James proceeded to lecture on the philosophy and theology of golf. Even then Archbishop Dolan, now Cardinal of New York was smiling. All were knowingly acknowledging the inclusion of so many thoughts from Blessed Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Among them were, “keep your eye on the ball” and “follow through on your swing” with the accompanying theology of the Polish Pope and the philosophy of the German Pope.
James loves to spend time on the golf course in Milwaukee, the game he learned from his father in his yearly vacations, when the pope has his summer vacation in northern Italy. His father, Robert Harvey, taught the sport at Shorewood High School and also managed a Milwaukee golf course.
At St. Peter’s Basilica during the Papal Mass with Six New Cardinals, I and my wife sat with George Weigel, Blessed Pope John Paul II’s official biographer, who recently wrote a book on Pope Benedict XVI, entitled, God’s Choice, Pope Benedict XVI, and the Future of the Catholic Church. It was good to renew our acquaintance.
George came to De Paul University and Holy Name Cathedral to talk about the Blessed John Paul II and his unique contribution to the Church. George also emphasized Poland’s freedom and predominance in the European Union in his books. He’s been awarded Poland’s highest honor, the Polish Cross.
After the Papal Mass, the North American College held a dinner in James honor toasting his priestly nature and fatherly oversight of Milwaukee and other American seminarians. James remarks at the celebration reflected the humble and the spiritual person, who has had the privilege to serve both Blessed Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.
Many noted his graciousness and genuine care in his service to the Church. James is a diplomat, the consummate host. He is a good spokesman for the American church. James is the only American who has held the position of Prefect of the Pontifical Household.
Later that afternoon was a special occasion. Only during the Consistory and the Papal Mass with New Cardinals is the Apostolic Palace open to the public. James had his reception in the Sala Regia, or King’s Salon, next to the Sistine Chapel. Over a thousand lined up to greet him. There were cardinals, bishops, priests, seminarians, diplomats, generals, friends and family. Upstairs in the papal apartments there was a private dinner.
The next day was the small private audience with the pope for families and friends of the six new cardinals. This was followed by a Mass at St. Paul Outside-the-Gates Basilica. There were plenty of family from Milwaukee, seminarians, priests and bishops from the Midwest and all over America, especially the North American College. Other than the prior ceremonies which were all in Latin and Italian, this one was in English.
James told a brief story of how six months earlier, when he was touring this Basilica with his nieces and nephews, a bird dropped something on a nephew, some of which landed on his suit. James did not know it then, but this was a portent or sign of his future at his new title archpriest of one of Rome’s four basilicas. We all smiled and listened as James discussed the challenges he faced in this new position as cardinal.
As we left the church, again we met George Weigel and enjoyed a discussion on how Speaker Newt and Polish American Mrs. Callista Gingrich had heavily borrowed material from his books for their film, “Nine Days That Changed the World,” which commemorated Blessed Pope John Paul II’s historic visit to Poland following his election to the Papacy. It was a fitting end to all of the festivities for the new Eminence Cardinal James Michael Harvey.
As we departed for the Fuchimo Leonardo Da Vinci Airport, the priest, Father Lucas, who drove us there as we noted the rain said, “Rome is crying because you are leaving.” Perhaps not for long, since we tossed coins in the Trevi Fountain. There is a tradition that if you toss a coin in Trevi Fountain, you will return to Rome. The same above mentioned priest noted that yearly $600K euros are scooped up from that same fountain, and the funds supply food and shelter for Rome’s homeless through Caritas.
Next summer, Milwaukee and Chicagoan Excellency Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki will honor Cardinal James Michael Harvey with a Mass of Thanksgiving giving his many friends and classmates a chance to greet him, and extend best wishes for someone, who has never forgotten his Midwestern roots in Milwaukee, and has never been ashamed to express his love of his old diocese.
It is a fitting tribute to a man, who quietly behind the scenes helped Poland’s brightest star, Blessed John Paul II, and now works for Pope Benedict XVI. So ends the story for now of the American secretary of the Polish Pope, Cardinal James Michael Harvey.
Research: Robert John Zagar, PhD, MPH, is an outstanding researcher, statistician, distinguished professor, & businessman. He is an expert in research design and statistics. With robust math & experimental design he extended the measurement of homicide in both males & females from infancy to adulthood to unprecedented sensitivity & specificity at the 90+% level. He has cost beneficial efficient approaches: (a) of targeting interventions to prevent violence at the macro level in communities; & (b) actuarial assessment at the micro level in school-university, workplace, & place of worship organizations, i.e., military, nonprofit-religious, airline, nuclear power, police-fire, prisons, volatile trucking, power grid, worker’s compensation, & personal injury.
Career: Robert John Zagar, PhD, MPH, is a registered clinical, & certified school psychologist, on National Register of Health Care Providers in Psychology, & a probation officer in the “first” Juvenile Court founded in 1899, Circuit Court of Cook County-Juvenile Division. As an economist Robert designed the Mitsubishi human resources selection, Illinois Labor Unemployment Compensation Act Lawyer Rewrite Committee selection, & Motorola work sharing programs. Robert taught at Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Chicago, Argosy, Barry, DePaul, & Lewis Universities, Chicago, Illinois & Forest Schools of Professional Psychology, & Calumet College. Robert is a member of the Chicago Public Schools Teacher’s Union. Robert is an expert witness with independent psychological exams for 30 years in competency, crime, custody, personal injury, presentencing, workman’s compensation, among others. Before completing his doctorate he performed 1K neuropsychological exams.
Education: Robert John Zagar, Ph.D., M.P.H., obtained a doctorate from Northwestern University, a bachelor’s from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, master’s from Illinois Institute of Technology, and master’s from University of Illinois at Chicago, fellowships in sleep disorders at Rush University Medical School, & prevention at University of Illinois Medical Center, 2 years of pre-medical sciences at DePaul, & 2 years basic medical sciences at Barry Universities. Robert received Northwestern & Rush University Scholarships, National Institute of Mental Health National Service Award. Robert published over 40 articles & books. His work was profiled in Newsweek, Chicago, Chicago Sun Time, & Tribune, New York Times, & on ABC, NBC, CNN, FOX, & CBS.
National & International: Robert served on the American Psychological Association Youth Violence Committee & on the international example of how to deal with clergy issues, the Committee for Clergy Abuse for the Archdiocese of Chicago. His research resulted from the court order initiating the Learning Disability Committee of the Juvenile Court. Robert founded an international charity group to help youth in Central Europe, Society of the Friends of Radgoszcz, & supports a variety of local, national, & international foundations.
Personal: Robert was born at Great Lakes Naval Bases. His father, Anthony, served in the US Special Services behind enemy lines in China during World War II. Robert’s uncle fought with General Patton in Africa and Europe. Mother was a US Navy nurse. Robert’s father was a businessman. Father’s best friend, Archbishop Abramowicz, is credited with helping end Polish communism with John Paul II, Walesa, Reagan, & Thatcher, supplying Chicago aid before and during Solidarity and “Nine Days that Changed the World.” Robert’s wife, Agatha, earned a bachelor’s at University of Illinois at Chicago & master’s in business administration from Roosevelt University. She is an actress, banker, & teacher. Both belong to the University Club of Chicago.
Accolades:
President Bill Clinton found Robert’s Predicting & Preventing Homicide “persuasive & convincing” recommending it to US Attorney Eric Holder. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley: Robert John Zagar Ph.D., M.P.H., founded & served on Mayor Daley’s Youth Violence Task Force with Robert’s macro model of homicide helpful in the $76.6M US Justice Department funding of Culture of Calm, lowering shootings 44% & assaults 77%, & the $2M US Education funding of after school computerized tutoring improving achievement. Speaker Newt Gingrich discovered that “Predicting & Preventing Homicide” saves prison costs mentioning it to 30 Republican governors, while Cook County President Preckwinkle after reading Robert’s work, went court-to-court, saving funds moving future prisoners to electronic surveillance. Pope John Paul II & Pope Benedict XVI thanked Robert for his research focusing on the costly challenge to nonprofit & religious worldwide, pedophilia. Google’s Eric Schmidt & US Army Director of Personnel said they were fascinated with his work. Virginia Representative Bobby Scott and Michigan’s John Conyers enjoyed his testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security 24 July 2012.