Blessed Charles Habsburg is an example to be followed by European leaders today and prayers should be offered to him for peace, says his grandson Georg Habsburg, currently ambassador of Hungary in France.
Speaking via video-link during a conference held in the Portuguese Catholic University to mark the centenary of the emperor’s death, and organised by the Hungarian and Austrian embassies in Lisbon, Georg Habsburg stressed the fact that his grandfather was one of the few European leaders of his time to make serious efforts to end the First World War, which was already raging when he rose to the throne.
“He was a soldier by training, and never expected to be put in this position, especially in such a difficult period. His reign was marked by his intentions to make peace because he knew what war was, and he knew they had to end the war quickly. Many didn’t think it would be possible, but we once again have a war in Europe. We think very specially now about my grandfather.”
Charles, whose main titles were Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, was a devout Catholic and was beatified in 2004 by John Paul II. The Pope’s birth name was Karl, in honour of the emperor. “Beatification means you are an example to be followed. Today a lot of prayers should go to my grandfather, that he may help in this very complicated time. We have no idea which direction this war is going in. We should pray that he assists us all in Europe in this very difficult time”, said ambassador Georg.
The Hungarian ambassador in Lisbon, Miklós Halmai, said the main message of Charles’ life remained true today. “The message of his life was family and peace. Unfortunately, a terrible war is raging in Ukraine and millions are on the run, hundreds of thousands are being taken into neighbouring countries, tens of thousands going further west, and the message of peace becomes more pressing and urgent by the day. We all need to work harder to bring this peace about.”
Charles was exiled after the First World War and eventually went to the Portuguese island of Madeira, where he lived in near poverty with his seven children and Empress Zita, who was expecting her eighth child when he died, aged 34, of ill health. His remains are buried on the island.
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