Abstract
Diplomatic relations are established by the Holy See and not by the Vatican, therefore it is accurate to speak about the diplomatic relations of the Holy See and not that of the Vatican. This analysis would like to outline how the representatives of the Holy See, assigned to the East-Central European countries, could work in the new political situation after World War II. It tries to set it in the context of the new social, political and geographical field, which this region entered as an area occupied by the Red Army. In the interwar period the Holy See concluded concordats with some countries of the East-Central European region (with Poland, Romania, the German Reich, Austria and the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes; it signed a ‘modus vivendi’ with Czechoslovakia and concluded the Lateran Treaty with Italy). In the case of Hungary, a so-called ‘intesa semplice’ entered into force in 1927 that was not a bilateral, international treaty, this is why 75 ABTL, 3.1.9. V-700/11, fol. 324/8–9, Confidential memo, found in the material of the house search at Mindszenthy [!]. 112 Diplomatic Missions of the Holy See in Hungary and East-Central Europe after the Second World War Margit BALOGH ARTICLES it is called “simple agreement”. Yet in general it is true that between 1944/45 and 1947/48 it was in the interests of nearly every East-Central European government to show religious tolerance to some extent and maintain connections with the Holy See. Marxism was not an insurmountable obstacle for the Holy See, since it had diplomatic relations with Muslim countries as well. Rome distinguishes between governments and ideologies; namely, it represents an intransigent position as regards ethical or religious principles, at the same time it does not refuse to enter into negotiations with any political figure or group. However, in the long run the Papal Nunciatures were not allowed to remain in the countries of the Soviet sphere of influence, whether or not the given country was on the winning or losing side of the war.
Highlights
Diplomatic relations are established by the Holy See and not by the Vatican, it is accurate to speak about the diplomatic relations of the Holy See and not that of the Vatican
The opinion, or rather denunciation, of the Vatican and the Catholic Church by the Soviets was resolute but some indecision can be demonstrated between accusing the Vatican of potential friendship with imperialism and treating it as a possible ally
In December 1945 Mindszenty might have had some faint suspicion but he had no real reason to question the reliability of the new Hungarian government and that it served Hungarian interests. Two days after his return from Rome he informed the Prime Minister that the Vatican welcomed the initiative to re-establish diplomatic relations, “there was no impediment to the re-establishment of relations” on the behalf of the Holy See, and it considered sending Archbishop Angelo Rotta, former Nuncio to Budapest
Summary
According to Canon 265 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law “it is the right of the Roman Pontiff, independent of civil power, to send into any part of the world Legates, with or without ecclesiastical jurisdiction”. The permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy Apostolic See is called Apostolic Delegate if he is sent to serve as a liaison with the local Church solely and his mission is not that of a diplomatic character in the strict sense of the word. If he is accredited to states and governments as well, his title is Nuncio in so far as he has the right to be the Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps in the country in question. According to diplomatic law the Nuncio and the Pro-Nuncio are rated as ambassadors and the rank of the Internuncio is envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary.
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