Mindszenty, 81, retires

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33453, 7 February 1974, Page 13

Mindszenty, 81, retires

(X.Z. Press Assn—Copyright) ROME, February 6 Pope Paul has retired Cardinal Jozsef Mindszenty, who is 81, from his post as Archibshop of Esztergom and Primate of Hungary, thus removing the main source of friction between the Vatican and Communist Hungary. The retirement comes three days before the twenty-fifth anniversary of the sentencing of the cardinal to life imprisonment in Hungary. Cardinal Mindszenty took refuge in the United States Embassy in Budapest during the 1956 Hungarian uprising, and spent 15 years there before bowing to a personal appeal from the Pope Paul and leaving for a life of exile outside Hungary. A Vatican statement says that the retirement decision was reached in agreement with Cardinal Mindszenty, and added: “The Pope has made the decision in consideration of the pastoral needs of the diocese of Esztergom.” Hungarian exile sources had predicted the move weeks ago. saying that the Pope was under extreme pressure from the Hungarian Government. The Vatican has released one recent Papal letter, praising the cardinal’s service to the Church, and likening his trial 25 years ago to the crown of thorns worn by Jesus.