Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski (1901 - 1981) was the Archbishop of Warsaw and Gniezno from 1949 to 1981. Appointed Cardinal in 1952, he assumed the title of Primate of Poland.

A fearless critic of the Communist government Wyszynski was imprisoned by the communist government between 1953 and 1956. After his release, Cardinal Wyszynski resumed his position of the spiritual leader of the nation, defending the freedom of religious worship guaranteed by the Constitution, but not always respected by the communist authorities. In a profoundly Catholic country, he wielded a moral authority not matched by any other leader.