Blaj: The Romanian Greek-Catholic Church is mourning the loss of its spiritual father, Cardinal Lucian Mureşan, who passed away on September 25 in Blaj at the age of 94. Remembered as a tireless defender of faith during decades of communist repression, Cardinal Mureşan leaves behind a legacy of resilience, unity, and pastoral dedication.
Born on May 23, 1931, in Transylvania, the young Lucian grew up in a family of twelve children. His early aspirations for priesthood were shattered when the communist regime outlawed the Greek-Catholic Church in 1948. Declared “undesirable,” he was forced to abandon his studies and train as a carpenter, later enduring harsh labor on Romania’s first hydroelectric project. Yet, even in those dark years, he pursued learning in secret and refused to let his vocation die.
In 1955, with permission from Bishop Márton Áron, Mureşan entered the Latin-rite seminary of Alba Iulia. His progress was cut short by government intervention, and he was expelled under surveillance. For a decade, he labored in road and bridge works while studying theology clandestinely. Finally, in December 1964, Bishop Ioan Dragomir secretly ordained him priest. From then on, he ministered in hiding, dedicating himself to youth and nurturing new vocations despite the constant threat of imprisonment.
Following the death of Bishop Dragomir in 1986, Fr. Mureşan assumed leadership of the Eparchy of Maramureş. His courage and steadfastness made him a beacon of faith for Greek-Catholics forced into secrecy. When communism collapsed in 1989, the Church could finally emerge from underground, and Lucian Mureşan stepped into public ministry with the same quiet determination he had shown in the shadows.
Appointed Bishop of Maramureş by St. John Paul II in 1990, he was consecrated by Cardinal Alexandru Todea. Just four years later, he succeeded Todea as Metropolitan Archbishop of Făgăraş and Alba Iulia, taking charge of a community struggling to reclaim churches, rebuild institutions, and reconcile with decades of trauma. In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI raised the Metropolitan Church to the rank of a Major Archepiscopal See, and Mureşan became its first Major Archbishop.
His influence extended beyond Romania. Between 1998 and 2012, he presided over the country’s Episcopal Conference, working closely with Orthodox and Latin-rite leaders. At the age of 80, Pope Benedict XVI created him cardinal, giving him the title of Sant’Atanasio. He later contributed to the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, offering the universal Church his wisdom shaped by suffering and hope.
In his final years, Cardinal Mureşan often reflected on the martyrs of his Church. At a commemoration for Blessed Cardinal Iuliu Hossu, he recalled meeting him in forced residence, describing him as “a friend of God and of all people, regardless of religion or ethnicity.” Like Hossu, Mureşan himself became a symbol of endurance, teaching that reconciliation and forgiveness are the strongest weapons against hatred.
Cardinal Lucian Mureşan’s passing marks the end of a chapter in the history of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church the chapter of those who carried the torch of faith through decades of darkness. His life was a testimony to perseverance, a model of silent courage, and a guide for future generations to treasure their faith in freedom.