"God bless America": this is the end of the thank-you letter in English that cardinal Péter Erdõ, primate of Hungary and archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, sent to US President George Bush, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the 1956 revolution in Hungary. "I would like writes card. Erdo , also on behalf of the whole Catholic community of Hungary, to express my gratitude to you, Mr President, and to all of the USA for the shelter and protection that you gave to cardinal Mindszenty back then, at that time of ordeal". "I would like to take the opportunity he added to express our gratitude also for offering asylum to thousands of Hungarian refugees who, due to the 1956 revolution, were driven out of their country and found a new, friendly home in the United States". "For those who went through that dark time in Hungary told cardinal Erdõ the many gifts and food rations from the USA that helped the people of our country during and after the revolution remain a fond, unforgettable memory. The kind gestures of those days brought a message of solidarity and freedom a message to which, now that we live in a state of freedom, we can reply with fresh sentiments of gratitude and solidarity".
