József Cardinal Mindszenty

József Cardinal Mindszenty (pronounced yor-zhef meend-sen-tee) was a 20th century Hungarian Cardinal and steadfast clerical opponent of communism in general, and of the regime in Hungary in particular.

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Mindszenty was born József Pehm on March 29, 1892, in Csehimindszent, Austria-Hungary. He became a priest on June 12, 1915. In 1917 the first of his books, Motherhood, was published. He was arrested under the Mihály Károlyi government on February 9, 1919, until the end of the Béla Kun government on May 15.

Related Topics:
March 29 - 1892 - Csehimindszent - Austria-Hungary - June 12 - 1915 - 1917 - Mihály Károlyi - February 9 - 1919 - Béla Kun - May 15

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He adopted his new name - part of his home village's name - in 1941.

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He also joined the Smallholder's Party in this period, in opposition to the Fascist Arrow Cross.

Related Topics:
Fascist - Arrow Cross

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On March 25, 1944, he was consecrated bishop of Veszprém.

Related Topics:
March 25 - 1944 - Bishop - Veszprém

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He was arrested again on November 26, 1944, for his opposition to the government, and charged with treason.

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In April, 1945, he was released from prison. On September 15 he was appointed Primate of Hungary and Archbishop of Esztergom (the seat of the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Hungary).

Related Topics:
September 15 - Primate - Archbishop - Esztergom - Roman Catholic Church

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On December 26, 1948, he was arrested again and accused of treason, conspiracy, and offences against the current laws. Shortly before his arrest he wrote a note to the effect that he had not been involved in any conspiracy, and any confession he would make would be the result of duress.

Related Topics:
December 26 - 1948 - Treason - Conspiracy

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On February 3, 1949, his trial was opened. On February 8, Mindszenty was sentenced to life imprisonment for treason against the Hungarian Communist government. His "confession of guilt" is believed to have been a result of drugging and torture. He had refused to permit Roman Catholic schools in Hungary to be secularised. At his trial he declared the note he had written about statements made under duress to be null and void. On February 12, Pope Pius XII announced the excommunication of all persons involved in the trial and conviction of Mindszenty.

Related Topics:
February 3 - 1949 - February 8 - Torture - February 12 - Pius XII - Excommunication

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On October 30, 1956, during the Hungarian Uprising, Mindszenty was released from prison and he returned to Budapest the next day. On November 2 he praised the insurgents. The following day he made a radio broadcast in favour of recent anti-communist developments. When the Soviets invaded Hungary again on November 4, Mindszenty sought Imre Nagy's advice, and was granted political asylum at the US embassy in Budapest. Mindszenty lived for 15 years in the US embassy. He never left the embassy area until September 28, 1971, when the Hungarian government let him leave the country. Since October 23 he lived in Vienna, Austria.

Related Topics:
October 30 - 1956 - Hungarian Uprising - Budapest - November 2 - Soviets - November 4 - Imre Nagy - Political asylum - US - September 28 - 1971 - October 23 - Vienna, Austria

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In 1974 he was forced by the Pope to retire from his posts and published his memoirs. He died on May 6, 1975, at the age of 83 in Vienna.

Related Topics:
1974 - May 6 - 1975

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A commemorative statue of Cardinal Mindszenty stands in New Brunswick, NJ.

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