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"Prof. Karski stood out as a determined and tireless advocate for unity among Christians, always rising above denominational boundaries,” said Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC). "Known for his integrity and dedication, he became a leading voice in Poland’s ecumenical movement—an enduring testament to his lifelong belief in Christian and human brotherhood.”
Karski’s legacy is defined by over five decades of tireless work to foster Christian unity, promote tolerance, and encourage inclusive dialogue, especially involving youth and women.
Born on 3 November 1940, in Katowice, from 1962 onward, he studied evangelical theology at the Christian Theological Academy (ChAT) in Warsaw, where in 1966 he defended his master’s thesis titled Christian Elements in the Quran. In subsequent years, he participated in seminars at the Department of Religious Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and from 1969–1970 worked in the editorial office of the magazine Posłannictwo.
From 1970 to 1982, he was active in the Polish Ecumenical Council, notably as deputy head of its Press, Studies, and Foreign Relations Department.
He pursued advanced theological studies at the WCC’s Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, near Geneva, and earned his doctorate from ChAT in 1978 on the topic Cooperation of Evangelical and Orthodox Churches in Poland with the International Fellowship for the Promotion of Inter-Church Relations through the Churches between 1919 and 1939.
A dedicated ecumenist, he held key roles in the Sub-Commission for Dialogue of the Polish Ecumenical Council and the Polish Episcopal Commission for Ecumenism. He contributed to the semi-annual journal Studies and Ecumenical Documents and lectured on ecumenism and Protestant theology at the Academy of Catholic Theology in Warsaw.
From 1988, he was a member of the international organization Societas Oecumenica. He began teaching at ChAT in 1991 and, in 1992, received a Doctor of Theological Sciences degree from the Catholic University of Lublin. He served as associate professor, head of the Department of Ecumenism, and vice-rector of ChAT (1996–2002). He was later awarded the title of professor of Theological Sciences in 2002 and led doctoral studies from 2011-12.
Karski was a member of the Committee of Theological Sciences at the Polish Academy of Sciences (2007–2011) and president of the Board of the Ecumenical Foundation “Tolerance.” Until 2019, he served as editor-in-chief of Studia i Dokumenty Ekumeniczne, and later chaired its Scientific Council. His prolific academic output included over 700 articles and six books. He received numerous honors, including the St Brother Albert's Award, the “Heart for Hearts” medal, and the “Meritorious for Tolerance” medal.
He was also socially active. In 1986, he co-founded the Warsaw Branch of the Polish Evangelical Society and served as its president from 1986–1999 and again from 2009–2017.
Karski was the author of numerous articles and books on ecumenism and evangelical theology. He also prepared numerous documents on ecumenical dialogue and translated many key ecumenical texts, including the Leuenberg Agreement and the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification.
In an article for Roczniki Teologii Ekumenicznej in 2010, Karski coined the saying “the World Council of Churches is the most perfect tool in the service of ecumenism.”
In 2023, Karski was awarded the Polish Ecumenical Council Prize, given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the ecumenical movement in Poland and globally.
Karski left behind his wife Aldona and son Michał. The funeral will take place on 14 April.
