The Archdiocese of Veszprém (, ) is a

Latin Church The Latin Church () is the largest autonomous () particular church within the Catholic Church, whose members constitute the vast majority of the 1.3 billion Catholics. The Latin Church is one of 24 Catholic particular churches and liturgical ...

archdiocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associated ...

of the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...

. Believed to have been established in 1009 AD by King

Stephen I of Hungary Stephen I, also known as King Saint Stephen ( ; ; ; 975 – 15 August 1038), was the last grand prince of the Hungarians between 997 and 1000 or 1001, and the first king of Hungary from 1000 or 1001 until his death in 1038. The year of his bi ...

, as the Diocese of Veszprém, the diocese was originally a suffragan to the

Archdiocese of Esztergom In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associated ...

. In 1993, the Diocese was elevated to an Archdiocese. The Archdiocese is the Metropolitan of the Diocese of Kaposvár and the Diocese of Szombathely. The Cathedral of Veszprém is dedicated to

Saint Michael Michael, also called Saint Michael the Archangel, Archangel Michael and Saint Michael the Taxiarch is an archangel and the warrior of God in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The earliest surviving mentions of his name are in third- and second- ...

. The current archbishop is György Udvardy, formerly Bishop of Pecs, who was appointed by

Pope Francis Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...

on July 12, 2019, to succeed the retiring Gyula Márfi.

Establishment of the diocese

The circumstances of the establishment of the

episcopal see An episcopal see is the area of a bishop's ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Phrases concerning actions occurring within or outside an episcopal see are indicative of the geographical significance of the term, making it synonymous with ''diocese'' ...

Veszprém Veszprém (; , , , ) is one of the oldest urban areas in Hungary, and a city with county rights. It lies approximately north of the Lake Balaton. It is the administrative center of the county of the same name. Etymology The city's name derives ...

are still under debate. It is probable that

was the habitual residence of Bishop Bruno, who had been sent to evangelise the

Magyars Hungarians, also known as Magyars, are an ethnic group native to Hungary (), who share a common culture, language and history. They also have a notable presence in former parts of the Kingdom of Hungary. The Hungarian language belongs to the ...

in 972; but it was probably only in 1009 when King

issued the Deed of Foundation of the Diocese of Veszprém. Based on the Deed of Foundation, the territory of the Diocese of Veszprém extended over the territories of the Counties of

, Fejér, Visegrád and Kolon. The Diocese of Veszprém was suffragan to the

. When the Abbey of Pannonhalma was established in 1001, King Stephen I granted the

tithe A tithe (; from Old English: ''teogoþa'' "tenth") is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Modern tithes are normally voluntary and paid in money, cash, cheques or v ...

s of the County of Somogy to the Abbey, but the county itself still belonged to the Diocese of Veszprém. The diocese was linked traditionally to the

queen consort A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king, and usually shares her spouse's social Imperial, royal and noble ranks, rank and status. She holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles and may be crowned and anointed, but hi ...

. Thus, the '' ius patronatus'' of the Cathedral in Veszprém was due to not only the

king of Hungary The King of Hungary () was the Monarchy, ruling head of state of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1000 (or 1001) to 1918. The style of title "Apostolic King of Hungary" (''Magyarország apostoli királya'') was endorsed by Pope Clement XIII in 1758 ...

but also his wife.

11th–14th centuries

Based on the tradition, the bishop of Veszprém was entitled to crown queens of Hungary, and this tradition was confirmed by an agreement between Bishop Robert of Veszprém and Archbishop János of Esztergom in April 1216. The bishop of Veszprém became also the queen's

chancellor Chancellor () is a title of various official positions in the governments of many countries. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the (lattice work screens) of a basilica (court hall), which separa ...

. The first bishop of Veszprém who used the title was Bertalan, Bishop of Veszprém, and in 1269 King Béla IV confirmed that the title was connected to the bishopric. In the year 1294, Queen Fenenna confirmed that, at that time, Dowager Queen Elizabeth had the privilege to collect the donations of the church in the

Veszprém County Veszprém (, ; ) is an administrative county (''vármegye'') in Hungary. Veszprém is also the name of the capital city of Veszprém county. Veszprém county Veszprém county lies in western Hungary. It covers the Bakony hills and the norther ...

, despite being a former queen. On 26 October 1313, King Charles I and Bishop Stephen Kéki concluded an agreement under which the Bishop ceded the

Csepel Island Csepel Island (, ) is an island in the Danube in Hungary. It is long; its width after sections of bifurcation and rejoining (confluence) varies from . It has an area of and its population is 165,000. The isle extends south from Budapest; its ...

to the King in exchange for the County of

. The agreement was confirmed, in 1392, by King Sigismund; therefore the bishops of Veszprém became also the perpetual ispáns of

List of the Bishops and Archbishops of Veszprém

Stephen Stephen or Steven is an English given name, first name. It is particularly significant to Christianity, Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; he is w ...

(c. 1009) * Modestus (or Buldi; c. 1046) *

Nicholas Nicholas is a male name, the Anglophone version of an ancient Greek name in use since antiquity, and cognate with the modern Greek , . It originally derived from a combination of two Ancient Greek, Greek words meaning 'victory' and 'people'. In ...

(or Clement; c. 1055) * George (c. 1061) *

Andrew Andrew is the English form of the given name, common in many countries. The word is derived from the , ''Andreas'', itself related to ''aner/andros'', "man" (as opposed to "woman"), thus meaning "manly" and, as consequence, "brave", "strong", "c ...

(c. 1062–1081) * Franco (c. 1081?) *

John I John I may refer to: People Religious figures * John I (bishop of Jerusalem) * John Chrysostom (349 – c. 407), Patriarch of Constantinople * John I of Antioch (died 441) * Pope John I of Alexandria, Coptic Pope from 496 to 505 * Pope John I, P ...

(c. 1082) *

Cosmas Cosmas or Kosmas is a Greek language, Greek name (), from Ancient Greek Κοσμᾶς (Kosmâs), associated with the noun κόσμος (kósmos), meaning "Cosmos, universe", and the verb κοσμέω (to order, govern, adorn) linked to propr ...

(1087–1090) * Almarius (c. 1091) * Matthew (1111–1117) * Nana (1121–1131) * Martyrius (before 1135) * Peter I (1135–1138) *

Paul Paul may refer to: People * Paul (given name), a given name, including a list of people * Paul (surname), a list of people * Paul the Apostle, an apostle who wrote many of the books of the New Testament * Ray Hildebrand, half of the singing duo ...

(c. 1142) *

Peta People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA; ) is an American animal rights nonprofit organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. Founded in March 1980 by Newkirk and animal right ...

(c. 1156) * Benedict II (c. 1171) * John II (1181–1193) * Calanda (1199–1209) *

Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' () "fame, glory, honour, prais ...

(1209–1225) *

Bartholomew Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Most scholars today identify Bartholomew as Nathanael, who appears in the Gospel of John (1:45–51; cf. 21:2). New Testament references The name ''Bartholomew ...

(1226–1243) * Zlaudus (1245–1262) * Paul II (1263–1275) * Peter II Kőszegi (1275–1289) * Benedict II (1290–1309) * Stephen II Kéki (1310–1322) *

Henry Henry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters * Henry (surname) * Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone Arts and entertainmen ...

(1323–1333) * Duke Mieszko Piast (1335–1343) * Stephen III Büki (1344–1345) * Galhard de Carceribus (1345–1346) * John III Garai (1347–1357) * Ladislaus I Zsámboki (1358–1371) * Ladislaus II Deméndi (1373–1377) * Peter III Siklósi (1378) * Benedict III Himházi (1379–1387) * Demetrius I Vajdai (1387–1392) * Pietro Isvalies (1503–1511) * Petar Berislavić/Péter Beriszló (1512–1520) * Pavol Várdai (1521–1523) * Thomas Szalaházy (1524–1526) * Martin I Kecseti (1528–1548) * Paul III Bornemissza (1549–1553) * Andrew I Köves (1553–1568) * Stephen IV Fejérkövy (1573–1587) * Francis I Forgách (1587–1596) * Andrew II Monoszloy (1596–1601) * Louis Újlaky (1603–1605) * Demetrius II Napragy (1605–1606) * Valentin Lépes (1608) * Peter IV Radovith (1608) * Francis II Erghely (1608–1628) * Stephen V Kissennyei-Sennyey (1628–1630) * Stephen VI Csíkmádéfalvi-Szentandrásy (1630) * Paul IV David (1630–1633) * George I Lippay (1633–1637) * George II Orlovai-Jakusyth (1637–1642) * Stephen VII Magyarbéli-Bosnyák (1642–1644) * George III Szelepcsény (1644–1648) * George IV Széchényi (1648–1658) * Paul V Hoffmann (1658–1659) * Stephen VII Kissennyei-Sennyey (1659–1683) * Paul VI Széchényi (1687–1710) * Otto Jochannes Volkra von Heidenreichstein (1710–1720) * Count Emeric Esterházy (1723–1725) * Adam Acsády (1725–1744) * Martin II Padányi-Bíró (1745–1762) * Ignatius Nagymányai-Koller (1762–1773) * John IV Bajzáth (1777–1802) * Paul VI Rosos (1808–1809) * George V Kurbély (1809–1821) * Anton Makay (1823–1825) * John V Kopácsy (1825–1847) * Count Dominic Zichy (1847–1849) * John VI Ranolder (1849–1875) * Sigismund Kovács (1877–1887) * Baron Charles Hornig (1888–1917) * Nándor Rott (1917–1939) *

Tihamér Tóth Tihamér is a masculine given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the ot ...

(1939) * Gyula Czapik (1939–1943) * József Mindszenty (1943–1945) * Ladislaus Bánáss (1946–1949) * Bartholomew Alexander Badalik (1949–1965) * Ladislaus Kádár (1975–1978) * Ladislaus Paskai (1979–1982) * József Szendi (1983–1997) * Gyula Márfi (1997–2019) * György Udvardy (since 2019)

Sources

* Balogh, Margit - Gergely, Jenő: ''Egyházak az újkori Magyarországon (1790–1992) - Adattár'' (MTA Történettudományi Intézete, Budapest, 1996) * ''Korai Magyar Történeti Lexikon (9-14. század)'', főszerkesztő: Kristó, Gyula, szerkesztők: Engel, Pál és Makk, Ferenc (Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, 1994) * Fallenbüchl, Zoltán: ''Magyarország főispánjai 1526-1848'' (Argumentum, Budapest, 1994) * ''Magyarország Történeti Kronológiája I-III. – A kezdetektől 1526-ig; 1526–1848, 1848-1944'', főszerkesztő: Benda, Kálmán (Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, 1981, 1982, 1993) * ''Magyar Történelmi Fogalomtár I-II. – A-K; L-ZS'', főszerkesztő: Bán, Péter (Gondolat, Budapest, 1989) * Fallenbüchl, Zoltán: ''Magyarország főméltóságai'' (Maecenas, 1988) * Karácsonyi, János: ''Magyarország egyháztörténete főbb vonásaiban 970-től 1900-ig'' (Könyvértékesítő Vállalat, Budapest, 1985)

References

http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dvesz.html {{DEFAULTSORT:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Veszprem History of Christianity in Hungary Veszprem Veszprem 1009 establishments in Europe People from Veszprém