Cardinal Jozef Glemp, who served as the long-time head of Poland's Catholic Church, has died. He was 83.
Church authorities say Glemp died Wednesday in Warsaw after a battle with lung cancer.
Glemp led the Catholic Church in Poland from 1981 to 2009 -- a period that largely coincided with the papacy of fellow Pole Pope John Paul II.
During that time, Glemp played a leading role in the country's fight against communism, serving as a mediator between communist authorities and leaders from the independent trade union Solidarity.
He was criticized for what many said were his conciliatory tactics, but at the same time was credited for helping to save lives during the transition from communist rule.