Bishop Ján Vojtaššák beatification process advances in Vatican

The beatification process for Bishop Ján Vojtaššák has reached a new stage as the document 'Positio super martyrio' has been submitted to historical consultants at the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in the Vatican. This document details his life, suffering, and potential martyrdom, particularly following his imprisonment by the communist regime.

Bishop František Trstenský of Spiš addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding Vojtaššák’s role during the period of the Slovak State (1939–1945). He acknowledged historical facts regarding the bishop’s involvement in the State Council and his stance during the implementation of anti-Jewish measures and the 'Aryanization' of Jewish property. Trstenský emphasized that the Church rejects antisemitism and is committed to investigating this history truthfully without relativizing the suffering of Holocaust victims.

The Union of Jewish Religious Communities in Slovakia has expressed concerns regarding the process, emphasizing the need to preserve the memory and respect of their ancestors. The Church maintains that the investigation of Vojtaššák’s life and the acknowledgment of Christian failures during that era are not mutually exclusive, but rather a shared obligation toward truth and responsibility.