Kadar's Hungary was an experimental country not only in the economic mechanism but also in church policy. Having restored order after 1956, the communist party's policy tried to develop partnership with the churches. It was also an experiment for Vatican to try how it can find a modus vivendi with communist regimes.

Jozsef Mindszenty (born Pehm) was a most controversial figure of the 20th century Hungarian history. As a local priest of Zalaegerszeg for a quarter of a century, and later as the bishop of Veszprem, even later, and most importantly as the cardinal of Eszregom, and finally as a political emigrant, he did his best to defend the semi-feudalistic social system of which time had gone.

Born in Pecs, 21 March 1932 died in Budapest, 17 November 1977.