HIS-Press-Service, 1977 (2. évfolyam, 5-8. szám)
1977-04-01 / 5. szám
HIS Press Service, April 1977 Page 6 Similar shortcoming show up in the statistics given out by the Hungarian Bishops Conference as information on Hungary's Church for the "Annuario Pontificio" and the "Annuario Statistico della Chiesa," both of which are published by the Vatican. Note should be made here of the fact that the backwardness present in the statistics of Hungary's Church points to a century-old area of neglect. Since compiling a general Church survey in Hungary therefore demands that one begin, for all practical purposes, at the most basic levels, one cannot call Cardinal Lêkai to task for not having been able to make these surveys within a year's time. The Role of Rome After turning in their written reports, the bishops receive an answer from the Vatican. At the same time, the quinquennal faculties (five-year jurisdictional powers) of the bishops are renewed. This gives them the power to make independent decisions in certain matters normally beyond their jurisdiction without having to first consult with Rome. The submission of the reports by the Hungarian bishops offered the Vatican a chance to express its views on the concrete situation in the individual dioceses. This enables Rome, through receiving the leaders of the dioceses at the time of the ad limina visits, to act as the guide and controlling authority of the Church. In the case of the Hungarian bishops, however, it is not Church administration that will play a prominent role, but instead theological and pastoral concerns. The Pope has often expressed his wish to assume the role of Peter, namely to "strengthen the brethren." This could be of decisive help for the Hungarian Church at present. For two decades the church politics of the Hungarian state was aimed, with greater and lesser success, at isolating the country's bishops from one another. The common meeting of the Hungarian bishops with the head of the Church in Rome could serve to strengthen their feeling of solidarity and encourage them to fulfill their mission in the Hungarian Church as a "college of bishops." This could be achieved through improved group efforts among themselves, with the priests, and with the faithful. It may be that this visit to Rome will also give the Pope a chance to offer the Hungarian bishops words of encouragement in their search for new approaches in the field of pastoral care. The Hungarian Church has traditionally had strong ties with Rome. In fact, the Hungarian Church often demonstrates a tendency to pass on to Rome tasks which should instead be solved within the context of the regional Church. In 1966, for
