Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Hungary, a deeply Christian nation, was historically known as Regnum Mariae Patrona Hungariae "Kingdom of Mary the Patroness of Hungary". Its national anthem is "Isten, áldd meg a magyart", "God, bless the Hungarians"
Hungary's estimated population of 10,064,000 is 67,5% Catholic; 20% Calvinist; 5% Lutheran and 0,2% Jewish. The Catholic Church in Hungary is organised in four archdioceses: Eger, (suffragans Gyor, Hadjugorod for Catholics if Byzantine Rite and Székesfehvar); Kalokska-Kecskemét (suffragans: Pécs, Szeged-Csanad); Veszprém (suffragans Kaposwar, Szombathely); Apostolic Esarchy of Miskolc for parishes of the faithful of Byzantine Rite in Hungary and the Abbey of Pannonhalma, which is directly under the Holy See.
John Paul II and Hungary - On his apostolic visit to Hungary 6 and 7 September 1996, Pope John Paul II presided solemn Vespers on the occasion of the millennium of the Abbey of Pannonhalma. In his homily on that occasion he recalled the history of the country's evangelisation, the role of St Martin of Tours of France and Saint Stephen King of Hungary (see link). Moreover on the occasion of the Hungarian Millennium Pope John Paul II addressed a Letter to the Catholics of Hungary, dated 10 April 2001.
In 2002 Pope John Paul II received in audience the president of Hungary on June 20 and the Prime Minister of Hungary Peter Medgyessy on July 4. In the conversation with Peter Medgyessy the Pope stressed the necessity of constructive dialogue between the government and the country's Catholic Bishops “for Hungary's material and spiritual progress ”.
In the same year on 24 October 2002, Pope John Paul II received the Hungarian Ambassador Gabor Erdödy, and in his discourse he said the country's past had made “Hungary particularly sensitive to respect for minorities, since many citizens of Hungarian origin and culture live in other countries today ”. John Paul II asked Hungary “show respect for members of minorities groups in Hungary ”. The Pope also said that “the Holy See never ceases to urge national leaders and also religious leaders to undertake courageous dialogue, the only way to settle conflict”.(J.M.) (Agenzia Fides 19/7/2007; righe 43, parole 604)
