17 March The government orders thenationalisation andredistribution of all estates over 100 "hold" (57 hectares) andpromises compensation for it. 29 March Unexpected death ofJusztiniánSerédi at the age of 61. He had been Archbishop of Esztergomand prince primate of Hungary since 1927. 2 April Vilmos Apor,
6 May Cardinal Mindszenty dies in Vienna at the age of 83. Heis buried in Mariacell (Austria). 8-16 September 230 lay people and 70 priests take part in a pilgrimageto Rome on the occasion of the Holy Year. 23 September The Hungarian Catholic peace movement celebrates its25th anniversary in St. Stephen's Basilica and in Pa
14 April Pope Paul VI receives the Hungarian bishops' conferenceon an ad limina visit. 8 June Paul VI, in the company of ArchbishopCasaroli, receives János Kádár andforeign minister Frigyes Puja. 9 June Ödön Lénárd, aPiarist, and the last priest in captivity, is released from prisonthanks to intervent
Vissza az évszámokhoz Vissza az évszámokhoz
30 April Antal Schütz, a Piarist professor dies at theage of 73. He was an outstanding Hungarian theologian. 10 May The new pastoral letter of the bishops' conferenceappreciates the economic plans of the government and calls forparticipation in the coming parliamentary elections. Back
27-29 January Pope John-Paul II receives in audience the members ofthe Hungarian Catholic Bishops' Bench. 12-18 April The 35th Hungarian Pax Romana Congress entitled"Renewing Church in a Renewing Society" is held in Vép andSzombathely. 16-18 May International congress in Budapest, entitled "TheRelations between the European St
15 January The Central Direction of Catholic Schools organizes anational mass-meeting. An average of 10-15 Catholic schools has openedin Hungary since the changes. This is the first great muster ofCatholic schools. 4 February A new Roman Catholic Diocese is created in Ruthenia(Ukraine) with Munkács (Mukatchevo) as its chief town. Thisterritory was unde
24-25 January The divinity teachers' national conference is organizedin its ancient form again in the Central Seminary in Budapest. 9 February Pope John-Paul II receives Hungarian PresidentÁrpád Göncz in private audience. TheHoly Father's invitation into Hungary for 1996 is confirmed at themeeting. The planned date of the visit is June 199
14 January Inauguration of Mons. Jenő Antal Majnek, first bishopof Ruthenia (Ukraine) at Mukatchevo. CardinalLászló Paskai, Archbishop IstvánSeregély, Bishop Nándor Bosák,Coadjutor Csaba Ternyák and Gyula Márfiparticipate at the holy mass, as well as the ordinaries of theUkrainian Roman Catholic dioceses and the representatives of
1 February The national assembly declares Hungary a republicwhich puts an end to the special political status of the Church: 18 February Pius XII appoints József MindszentyCardinal. 4 May The bishops' conference issues a pastoral letter indefence of Catholic schools and religious education. 26
13 April Memorial day inSzékesfehérvár on the occasion of the20th anniversary of the death of OttokárProhászka, bishop ofSzékesfehérvár. 26 April Sculpture of bishop Prohászka is pulleddown in Budapest. Beginning of August The bishops' conference, in itspastoral letter, calls for an
Beginning of April Nationalisation of the "Stephen printing press of theCatholic publishing house "St. Stephen Society'. 11 May Cardinal Mindszenty, in his pastoral letter, threatenssupporters of school nationalisation with Church disciplinary measures. 13 May 100,000 people take part in a Fatima devotion at thecave ch
23 January The Hungarian bishops turn to their flock, with apastoral letter referring to the difficult situation of the HungarianCatholic Church. 3-8 February The so called "people's tribunal" sentences CardinalMindszenty to life-imprisonment. 5 September Government ordinance abolishes compulsory religiouseducation in
8-9 June 413 nuns and monks are transported at night from thearea around the Yugoslav border to religious houses within the country. 19 June 1,120 religious are deported. 28 June Talks start between government representatives and thecommissioners of the Church. 5 July The chapter of cat
18 May State Church Office is set up. June The State Church Office appoints commissioners in everydiocese to ensure the realisation of government policy on the Church.Beginning of June Arrest of József Grósz,Archbishop of Kalocsa, and eight others. He is replaced by GyulaCzapik, Archbishop of Eger, as president of the bishops' conf
During the course of theyear bishops issue pastoralletters to encourage people to do spring work in the fields and to takepart in the scrap-metal collection campaign. Back
October The Priests' Peace Movement (see above 1 August 1950)joins the Patriotic Popular Front. Back
14 October The Minister of Justice releases ArchbishopGrósz at the request of Archbishop Czapik. Back
13 October The bishops' conference issues a long statementcondemning abortion. 23 October Revolution breaks out in the streets OfBudapest. 28 October Pius XII issues his encyclical "Luctuosissimi eventus"concerning events in Hungary to express his sympathy with the Hungariannation. 30 October
9 February After the resignation of Béla Witz,József Grósz appoints Mihály Endreyspecial delegate of the diocese Of Esztergom. 24 March New decree is issued on the state approval of theimportant Church posts (1957: statute 22). 23 May The bishops' conference establishes the CatholicCommittee
2 February The Holy See excommunicates three priest-MP's:Miklós Beresztóczy, Richard Horváthand János Máté. May Opus Pacis invites priests to "peace meetings"throughout the country. (see above 1 August I950) 4. September Artur Schwarz-Eggenhofer, vicar-general, replacesspecial
March 14 seminarists are expelled from the Central Seminary atthe request of the government, because of their hostile attitudetowards the Priests' Peace Movement. Most of the students declare theirsolidarity with them. Only 17 of the 100 seminarists of the previousyear remain. 2 June The State Church Office resumes work under thesupervision of t
22 November Eight priests are arrested in Budapest and sentenced toa total of 35 years for "inciting young people". Back
6 February 40 priests and 15 lay apostles are arrested forillegitimate activities. The "plot of the black ravens" is put to anend by 12 show trials. 3 October József Grósz, Archbishop ofKalocsa since 1943, dies at the age of 74. BishopHavas becomes president of the bishops' conference, of Opus Pacis andof the Catholic Peace Counc
4 October Endre Havas, bishop of Csanád,Sándor Kovács, bishop of Szombathely, andPál Brezanóczy, apostolic administrator of Eger,are delegated to the first session of the Second Vatican Council. Theyreturn on the 12th December. Back
22 March 54 priests and monks and many lay apostles are releasedfrom prison thanks to the general amnesty of the Presidential Council.(The general post '56 amnesty.) 7-9 May Talks start between-the Vatican, represented byAgostino Casaroli, deputy secretary of state, and Hungary, representedby the president of the State Church Office. The event i
15 September Mons. Agostino Casaroti, deputy secretary of theCongregation of Special Church Affairs, and József Prantner,president of the State Church Office, sign the parity agreement betweenthe Vatican and Hungary on the settlement of certain legal conflictsbetween the Hungarian Church and the state. 8 December Six Jesuits and seven pri
7 March Liturgical reform implemented as directed by thebishops' conference. November Hungarian seminaries have a total of 303students. Back
27 November Masses are to be celebrated in Hungarian from thisSunday onwards, as decided by the bishops' conference. Back
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25 January Pope Paul VI promotes the apostolic administration ofBácska (Yugoslavia) to the independent bishopric of Szabadka(now Subotica, Yugoslavia). Back
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20 August The bishops' conference concelebrates Mass in St.Stephen's Basilica to mark the opening of St. Stephen's year. A letterfrom Paul VI is read to the congregation after the gospel. 9 September Five priests are arrested for illegal pastoral workwith young people. Back
16 April János Péter, Hungarian ForeignMinister, is received by the Pope. 10 July The Pope writes a letter to Cardinal Mindszenty. 28 September According to the agreement between the Holy See andHungary, Cardinal Mindszenty Leaves the American Embassy, where he hadstayed since the 4th November 1956, and
16 March József Ijjas, Archbishop of Kalocsa ordainssix bishops in St. Stephen's Basilica: Sándor Klempa,László Lékai,Árpád Fábián andLászló Kádár. 10-27 May 8 bishops, 60 priests and 300 lay pilgrims go to Romefor Pentecost.
14 January Cardinal Mindszenty addresses a letter to the Pope. 30 January The Pope answers Cardinal Mindszenty. 2 February Pope Paul VI appoints LászlóLékai apostolic administrator of Veszprém, to beapostolic administrator of Esztergom. JózsefBánk, bishop of Győr, made archbish
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10 February Paul VI appoints LászlóLékai Archbishop of Esztergom. 24 May László Lékai is madeCardinal. During the course of the year the new Hungarian bible,which had been completed in 1972, is published. Back
5-6 January American delegation arrives in Budapest to return thecrown of St. Stephen and the royal insignia. July The bishops' conference issues a pastoral lettercondemning abortion. 12-13 July Pedro Adrupe, superior general of the Society of Jesus,visits Hungary. September The Theological Academy's correspondencecour
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6 April John Paul II stresses the importance of religiouseducation in an Easter Letter to Hungarian bishops and priests. 25 May Catholic youth meeting held at Nagymaros 17 July John Paul II extends the jurisdiction of the bishops ofHajdúdorog over all Greek Catholics in the country. 29 Septembe
31 May Pilgrimage to Máriaremete organised fordisabled people. 15 November Celebration of the 10th anniversary of the death of St.Elisabeth of the house of Árpád held atSárospatak. Papal letter to the Hungarian Church. Back
25 January The bishops' Conference issues a pastoral letter onecumenism. 1 March Greek Catholic vicariate is established in Budapest. 11 May The Holy See attaches the Hungarian territoriesformerly under the jurisdiction of the Slovak bishoprics of Kassa andRozsnyó, and those of the Romanian bishopric ofSzatm&aa
28 February - 1 March The Philosophical Institute of the Hungarian Academyorganises an international conference on the "responsibility Of man inthe world today' . Karl Rahner, a Jesuit theologian, is among thelecturers. 4-12 May Luigi Poggi, papal legate, delivers AugustinoCasaroli's letter, which criticises the communities set up byGy&ou
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March Publication of the relations for Hungarian parishes. 11 March and 6 May According to a statistical survey, 12.47% of Catholicsgo to Mass on Sundays in the diocese of Esztergom. 4 April 'The bishops' conference issues a pastoral letter onthe occasion of the 40th anniversary of the
25 March The rules for lay pastors are approved for a five-yeartrial period. 26-28 May Mother Theresa visits Budapest. 30 June László Lékai, CardinalPrimate, Archbishop of Esztergom since 1976, dies at the age of 77.László Paskai replaces him as president of theBishop's Conference. S
19 February Prime Minister GyörgyLázár receives a private audience with the Pope. 2 March A new pastoral letter of the bishops' conference isread out in churches to start the parish renewal. 3. March John Paul appoints László Paskai(assistant bishop of Kalocsa) Archbishop of Esztergom.
20 January Hungarian Radio launches a new half-hour informationprogramme entitled Religious Newsreel (ed. LászlóRapcsányi). 2 February Imre Miklós president of the State ChurchOffice, holds a press conference in Vienna on Church-State relations.He states that not every pre-war religious order will be reinstated,and th
7-8 March At the spring meeting of the bishops' conferenceCardinal Paskai announces that the Pope's visit to Hungary is likely totake place in 199I. The bishops' conference also discusses thepossibilities of restarting the activity of religious orders, and alsodecides to set up the Hungarian Pastoral Institute to co-ordinatepastoral work. 5 April
24 January Parliament passes an act on religious freedom. 6 February The government and the bishops' conference abolish theconcordat of 1950 (see above 30 August 1950). 9 February Re-establishment of diplomatic relations between theVatican and Hungary. 28 March Archbishop Acerbi is appointed
1 January The Pope's New Year Address to the Hungarian people 14 January The Highest Court rehears the process carried againstthe Regnum Marianum clerical community in 1965 and finds the judgmentunlawful even on the basis of the constitution of the day. Hungarian president ÁrpádGöncz present
13 January The Holy See officially recognizes the Croatian and theSlovenian Republics. 8 February The Holy See re-establishes its diplomatic relationswith the Ukrainian Republic. A nunciature is opened in this countrywhile the Ukrainian state accredits an ambassador to the Holy See. 19 February Jewish-Catholic meeting
