HIS-Press-Service, 1980 (5. évfolyam, 16-18. szám)
1980-11-01 / 18. szám
HIS Press Service No.18, November 1980 Page 5 fate of Hungary's Christians. The present successor to Peter offers both the Hungarians living in other countries and those in Hungary the chance to reach out to one another in unity. Pope John Paul II and Hungary's Church The Polish Pope sent his first official letter to Hungary's Church in December 1978, shortly after his election. Since a visit of Arthbishop Luigi Poggi was soon to take place in the Hungarian capital, the "traveling diplomat of the Vatican" personally brought the letter to Budapest. In this extremely cordial letter, the Pope called to mind the century-old friendship between the Poles and Hungarians, which he too felt. He praised the already 1,000-year-old tradition of Christianity in the life of the Hungarian people and - in exercising the office entrusted him as chief shepherd of Catholic Christianity- expressed the hope and desire, that the Catholic Church, which had influenced the destiny of the Hungarian nation in such an exceptional manner throughout the country's history, would continue to serve as a guiding light for the country's spirit in the future. The Pope reiterated this desire in a letter sent to Hungary's Church at Easter in 1980 in connection with catechetical matters. This second papal letter, which spoke about the apostolic pastoral letter "Catechesi Tradendae...and the directives and suggestions stemming from the Fourth Synod of Bishops in connection with the situation existing in Hungary, is an eloquent witness both of the direct participation of the Pope in the fate of Hungary's Church and his concrete concern for pastoral matters. In his letter, the Pope successively discussed the tasks of the bishops, priests, members of religious orders, and the faithful - especially parents - as well as those of the teachers and educators in the Catholic secondary schools, and stressed the role and responsibility of each of these groups in the field of catechetical instruction. For all people - from small children to adults - and in all phases of life, "catechetics must be a constant school Of faith which accompanies man in all of his more important steps in life." In his pastoral directives, the Pope took into consideration the concrete situation existing in Hungary both in regard to the possibilities available and the difficulties to be faced. Directing himself to the State agencies, the Pope said: "It is our deep conviction that it will be seen as a honourable act if your civil authorities respect the Catholic faith of the youth - and respect it to such an extent that these youth can, with the assent of the authorities, be raised to be Christians, be strengthened in their faith, and grow through théir open admission and unhindered exercise of their faith." A third papal document which, like the former, was written in the Hungarian language, was received by Hungary's Church in September 1980. This document, which was dated 24 September, the feast of St.Gellert, was in commemoration of the 1,000th anni
