Az Apostoli Szentszék átfogó felmérése a magyarországi egyházi javakról (1925–1927)
The comprehensive study of the Holy See about the state of the Hungarian ecclesiastical benefices (1925–1927)

Summary/Abstract: The reader can get a comprehensive picture from the study about how the Holy See perceived the financial state of the Hungarian ecclesiastical benefices in the middle of the 1920s by presenting and analysing the background of the report of Cesare Orsenigo, the apostolic nuncio of Budapest, written on 17 January 1927 to the cardinal secretary of state, Pietro Gasparri. The issue of managing the ecclesiastical assets already arose during the catholic autonomy movement, but no deliberation was approved by the Holy See on the subject. As a result of the Treaty of Trianon, a part of the possessions of several dioceses and ecclesiastical entities got to the other side of the boarder and the Hungarian ecclesiastical proprietaries lost possession of them. Hence, the financial bases of several ecclesiastical institutes were shaken. The governments of the neighbouring countries came up with their demands for the collation of bishoprics and for drawing the boarders of the dioceses along the political boarders. In this situation it was the interest of the Holy See to have a proper view about the state of the Hungarian bishopric and chapter benefices. Lorenzo Schioppa, the first apostolic nuncio of Budapest (1920–1925) and his successor, Cesare Orsenigo (1925–1930) saw the administration of benefices of the Hungarian prelates differently. While the former was convinced that they were very rich but compared to the extent of their assets spend little on religious or pious purposes, the latter also detailed the extent of their burdens and obligations. Due to the differing opinions, the Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs dealt with the question on 26 November 1925 and decided that the nuncio should make a comprehensive report with the help of the bishops. The results of this is the report of the nuncio are examined in the present study.

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