Vojnoví zajatci, internovaní, vysídlení. Aktivity Józsefa Mindszentyho, kardinála Maďarska v oblasti ľudských práv (1945 – 1948)
Prisoners of War, Internment, Deportation. The Activity of the Hungarian Cardinal József Mindszenty in the Field of Human Rights (1945 – 1948)

Summary/Abstract: József Mindszenty, appointed Archbishop of Esztergom on 16 August 1945, became world famous as one of the symbols of the struggle against communism. He held his position as archbishop and primate until 1974. However, he was only really able to serve in these functions for a little less than four years. The political police arrested him on 26 December 1948 and the People’s Court in Budapest sentenced him to life imprisonment. During his time as archbishop, he was extraordinarily active. He initiated various actions by the Church, which had to confront radical changes in society and the political system. He attempted to find his place and secure the position of the Church in the framework of these new conditions. The study is devoted to his activity in the field of human rights. It gives evidence that Mindszenty did everything possible for people suffering from discrimination or persecution, whether in the domestic or international context. As the head of the Catholic hierarchy or as a public figure in Hungary, he considered it his duty to influence public opinion in favour of Hungarians in internment and prisoner of war camps, as well as in cases of legally unjustified proceedings against war criminals. He acted similarly on the questions of the expulsion of Hungarians from Slovakia and Germans from Hungary. At the same time, all his argumentation inclined to the conception of the ethnic integrity of Hungary. He was a relentless, consistent and passionate defender of his views, and was still convinced of their correctness during his trial. As he stated to the court, he had carried out his “pastoral and humanitarian duties”.

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