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100 years of diplomatic relations between the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and Hungary.
In 1925, the then Grand Master of the Order, Fra' Galeazzo von Thun und Hohenstein, appointed Count Jenő Karátsonyi, who had been a member of the Order since 1900 in the Bohemian-Austrian Grand Priorate, as Ambassador Extraordinary to Hungary. It was Jenő Karátsonyi who paved the way for the Order of Malta to authorise the creation of a Hungarian national association in 1928.
The centenary of the presentation of Count Jenő Karátsonyi's credentials was celebrated by the Hungarian Order of Malta, at the invitation of H.E. Ambassador Dr. Heinz Anton Hafner, on 10th April at the Church of the Holy Name of the Virgin Mary in Solymár, where Count Jenő Karátsonyi is buried. The solemn Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Michael W. Banach, Apostolic Nuncio, Conventual Honorary Chaplain Grand Cross, concelebrated by Honorary Conventual Chaplain Dr. Tamás Tóth and parish priest János Szemere. Among those present were former Ambassadors of the Order to Hungary HRH Michael Habsburg-Lothringen and Imre Ugron, the President of the Hungarian Association of Knights of Malta Kristóf Szabadhegÿ, the President of the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta Péter Szabadhegÿ, as well as former President of the Republic Dr. Pál Schmitt, Mayor Péter Zlinszky and many members of the Order.
After Mass, H.E. Dr. Heinz Hafner, accompanied by his two predecessors, placed a wreath at the tomb of Count Jenő Karátsonyi.
The full text of the homily given by HE Archbishop Banach can be read by clicking here.
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