Pedophilia scandal

Budapest: Vatican not involved in pardons

Pope Francis visited Hungary last year. Controversial pardons were granted during this visit.(Bild: APA/AFP/Filippo MONTEFORTE)

Although Pope Francis' visit in April last year was the reason for several pardons in Hungary - including the one in a paedophilia case over which head of state Katalin Novák stumbled - the Vatican was not involved in the decisions. This was emphasized on Monday by Zoltán Kovács, the state secretary responsible for international communication.

The Hungarian head of state decided on the pardon without communicating with the Holy See or the Pope. Kovács explained: "The presidents of the Hungarian Republic make use of their right to pardon from time to time, often on special occasions or holidays. Pope Francis' visit in April 2023 was one such occasion."

When asked whether there had been an exchange with the Vatican regarding the names of the people to be pardoned, the Secretary of State explained that heads of state "decide independently in pardon cases without communicating with outsiders such as the Holy See or the Pope."

During Pope Francis' visit to Hungary in April 2023, Novák pardoned the former deputy director of an orphanage as well as a convicted right-wing extremist. The man had been convicted in Hungary for being involved in covering up cases of abuse at the home.

The director of the home had been sentenced to eight years in prison for sexual abuse of minors, his deputy to three years and four months for cover-up. This prison sentence was shortened by nine months as a result of the pardon. 

Pressure too great: President resigned
The news of the deputy's pardon triggered a wave of outrage in the Hungarian media and protests on the streets. Last Saturday, Novák announced her resignation as president. Former Justice Minister Judit Varga, who had countersigned the pardon as a minister at the time, was also forced to withdraw from politics as a result of the affair. The release of György Budaházy, who had been convicted of terrorism, also caused a stir.