A conference entitled The Franciscans: Our Life in Community – Our Life in the World was held on 12–13 October 2026, organised by Gál Ferenc University in Szeged and the Franciscan Friary of Szeged-Alsóváros to mark the 800th anniversary of the Transitus of St Francis of Assisi. Embracing the spiritual legacy of Sándor Bálint, the event brought together scholars from a range of disciplines.
On the second day of the conference, György Sági, Scientific Secretary and Research Fellow of the Fraknói Research Group, delivered a paper entitled Kelemen Király, a Franciscan Friar and Pioneer of Ecumenism. In the first part of his presentation, he outlined the life of the Franciscan friar, who served Hungarian communities living far from their homeland overseas from 1947 until his death. The second part focused on the friar-priest’s outstanding contribution to the pursuit of Christian unity, a significant aspect of his work that remains relatively little known in Hungary.
The current focus on Kelemen Király (1893–1978) and his ecumenical outlook builds on Sági’s earlier work. In 2018, Sági edited for publication the diary of this German-heritage Franciscan, who was born in the Bácska region. Covering the years 1944–1947, the diary documents the major social, ecclesiastical, and political changes of the period. Read more about the publication of the diary.
