Kuno Klebelsberg and the Vision of a Catholic University
Kuno Klebelsberg and the Vision of a Catholic University

Summary/Abstract: The study examines Kuno Klebelsberg’s vision of a Catholic university through the lens of Hungarian cultural and educational policy in the interwar period, with particular attention to the case of the University of Szeged. As Minister of Religion and Public Education, Klebelsberg regarded higher education as a key instrument of national reconstruction after the Treaty of Trianon, emphasizing the strategic role of culture, science, and Christianity in strengthening Hungarian national identity. The paper explores his efforts to establish a Catholic theological faculty within the framework of the Ferenc József University and analyses the political, ecclesiastical, and institutional debates surrounding this initiative. Drawing on archival sources and contemporary documents, the study highlights the tensions between state interests, church leadership, and higher education policy, as well as the broader ideological context of neonationalism and cultural superiority. The article argues that although Klebelsberg’s plan for a Catholic theological faculty at Szeged was ultimately not fully realized, his vision significantly influenced the development of Hungarian higher education and the relationship between the Catholic Church and the state during the interwar period.

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