The Fraknói Research Group at the First International Congress of the History of Dioceses in Lisbon
The Centro de Estudos de Historia Religiosa of the Catholic University of Portugal (Lisbon) and the História, Territorios, Comunidades research centre of the University of Coimbra jointly organised the First International Congress of the History of Dioceses, held in Lisbon from 22 to 24 October 2025.
The three-day scholarly event took place in the auditorium of the John Paul II Library on the campus of the Catholic University of Portugal. The organisers aimed to provide a platform for presenting and discussing new achievements in ecclesiastical historiography. Moreover, the extended “Questions” sessions scheduled at the end of each panel – considerably longer than is customary in Hungary – offered valuable opportunities for in-depth discussion, comparison, and interpretation of the papers presented.
Fruitful exchanges of ideas took place among participants from Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, and the Czech Republic, reflecting the event’s distinctly international character.
The Vilmos Fraknói Vatican Historical Research Group was represented by Róbert Oláh P., who, following the recent conferral of his doctoral degree, participated as a Research Fellow. His paper, delivered on 22 October, was entitled: “Benefice Acquisition and Advancement to Canonical Dignity in 17th–18th-Century Hungary. An Examination of the Personnel of the Győr Cathedral Chapter.”
In his presentation, he outlined the main findings of his doctoral dissertation, introducing new research results concerning the relationship between the lower clergy of the Diocese of Győr and the cathedral chapter, the system of commendations, the conditions of advancement within the capitular hierarchy, and the influence of the Habsburg dynasty on appointments to canonical offices.
The conference papers are expected to be published in written form in the course of the coming year. The cooperation newly established with the Catholic University of Portugal has its roots—like so many others—in parallel research activities carried out in the Vatican Archives.
