Last week, the Cause of Cardinal József Mindszenty of Hungary (1892-1975) took a major step forward: Pope Francis declared Mindszenty Venerable. This Cold War leader – who was arrested, tortured and forced into seclusion by the Hungarian communist regime – demonstrated heroic courage in perilous times for the Church.
But Mindszenty is not the only Cold War Hungarian bishop whose Cause is before the Vatican. Like Mindszenty, the bishop of the Hungarian-speaking Transylvania diocese of Romania, Áron Márton (1896-1980), was also arrested and tortured by the communists. On release, Mindszenty isolated himself in Budapest’s American embassy. Márton, in contrast, returned to work in his diocesan office and cathedral. In 1992, the Vatican designated Márton a Servant of God, and supporters of his canonisation Cause believe he represents another, equally heroic path for Church leaders in a secular age.
