Hungary's bishop's conference: new general secretary elected to scandal!

Hungary's bishop's conference: new general secretary elected to scandal!

Budapest, Ungarn - In Hungary, the Catholic Bishops' Conference has changed in the General Secretariat. The 47-year-old Gabor Nemeth was elected new general secretary during the general assembly on December 3 and 4, 2024 in Budapest. He follows Tamás Toth, who resigned in office after more than six years. Nemeth brings extensive experience; He has been an office manager in the General Secretariat since 2018 and teaches at the Catholic Peter Pazmany University in Budapest. Toth had headed the conference in the run -up to Pope Francis' visit to Hungary, who dedicated great media attention.

The background of Toth's resignation, however, are inconsistent. According to the Hungarian media, he was involved in a scandal that affects allegations against a priest from the archdiocese of Kalocsa-Kecskemet, which led to his suspension. The new Secretary General Nemeth will thus enter a delicate phase of the Hungarian church, which is shaped by various abuse scandals, as reported

preparation for the Pope's visit

Four months after the resignation, Pope Francis will be expected to visit Hungary on Friday. Tamás Toth, who previously acted as Secretary General, had headed the organization of the program and described the preparations as very successful. In an interview with Radio Vatican, he also commented on the mood in the country and the sensitivity of the media regarding the visit. In detail, he addressed the importance of this visit as a sign of the Catholic community in Hungary and for peace, especially in the light of the current geopolitical tensions in the region, especially because of the Ukraine war. , as reported.

The preparations also include an encounter with refugees, whereby it is expected that many from Ukraine who have found refuge in Hungary have also participated. The expectations of this pastoral visit are high because the Hungarian Catholic Church hopes that it will be understood as a sign of unity and peace. Toth emphasized that this visit was not only an investment in the present, but could also strengthen the future of the church in Hungary