Cardinal Péter Erdő

Photo: IEC: Budapest

Metropolitan Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary

Dioceses/Religious Orders: Archdiocese Esztergom-Budapest

Cardinal Erdő failed to ensure transparency, accountability, and pastoral care in the handling of abuse allegations against Fr. Balázs, credibly accused of sexually abusing multiple minors. Despite a 2015 report by survivor Attila Pető—corroborated by other victims and acknowledged as “well-founded” by the archdiocese—Erdő imposed a secret ten-year ban on the priest in 2016 without notifying victims or the public. The case was only revealed through media exposure. Erdő and his deputies refused to acknowledge earlier reports of abuse, denied Pető recognition as a victim, withheld investigative outcomes, and failed to offer an apology or restitution. Erdő has since attempted to distance himself legally from the case, despite clear evidence of the archdiocese’s direct involvement.

SNAP filed a complaint against Erdő under the pope’s 2023 decree Vos estis lux mundi on March 25, 2025

Vos estis lux mundi, Pope Francis’ 2023 decree, allows any bishop, cardinal, or religious superior to be reported and investigated for abuse or cover-up. These complaints, submitted to the Vatican, are not verdicts of guilt. They are evidence-based calls for investigation—each meeting the church’s own standard of “serious indications” that a violation occurred. In civil terms, this is equivalent to probable cause or reasonable grounds to investigate.

Every filing draws from a solid foundation of survivor and eyewitness testimony, public records and church statements, independent investigations by media and legal experts, official church documents and canonical proceedings, testimony, depositions, and court-ordered documents from criminal and civil cases.