Appointment as grand provost of the central cathedral chapter of Kalocsa in 1923–1924

Abstract

An important element in the exercise of Hungarian Royal Patronage and Supremacy was the appointment of cathedral chapter dignities. This is the subject of the present study, in which I analyse a grand provost appointment that has so far only been marginally examined. The post of Grand Prepost of Kalocsa was vacated as Pál Macskovics passed away on March 4, 1923, and almost a year later, in February 1924, it was finally filled in by József Vass, whose name had been also raised for the bishopric of Pécs and the archdiocese of Kalocsa. The benefice was reserved for the Holy See in accordance with Can. 396 §1. Contrary to that, the 1776 founding letter of the Kalocsa Chapter stated that all canons would be appointed by the King under the Hungarian Royal Patronage and Supremacy, but it left the right of presentation with the archbishop for the grand provost and major canon posts, with triple nomination, while for the other canons gradual promotion prevailed. The local practice was outlined by Győző Horváth, vicar of the chapter, in a letter sent to Nuncio Lorenzo Schioppa on April 25, 1923. This led to the case being placed on the agenda of the Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs in May 1923. Here, at the council, the cardinals stated their theoretical position that, in the absence of a royal patron, the filling of the cathedral chapter dignities is the right of the pope according to canon law. Initially, the Holy See wanted to fill the post with one of the bishops expelled from Czechoslovakia, Vilmos Batthyány, but he refused and died in November 1923. The government proposed the appointment of József Vass, Minister of Welfare and Labour, in exchange for which it was willing to make gestures (the transfer of the benefice to the Apostolic Administrator of Kalocsa and the Apostolic Administrator of Oradea; the leaving of the Holy See Ambassador Somssich in Rome), which convinced the Holy See, and on February 6, 1924 the Pope appointed Vass to the position.