Dr. Tamás Sulyok, President of Hungary, met with the Hungarian community in Cleveland, Ohio

During his visit to Cleveland, the President emphasised at the joint ceremony on 15 March that Hungarian communities in the United States create value for America while also strengthening the reputation of the Hungarian people. Referring to the long history of the Hungarian community in Cleveland, he highlighted that they serve as an example for other Diaspora communities as well. In his speech, he recalled Lajos Kossuth’s 1852 address in Ohio and drew a parallel with Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, emphasising that the ideals of the 1848–49 War of Independence expressed the universal value of freedom.

On the second Sunday of Lent, the Head of State attended Holy Mass at St. Imre’s Church. The local parish, founded in 1904, remains an independent, active Hungarian-speaking community, preserving the faith and national traditions in its church, built in 1925; Cardinal József Mindszenty also visited the parish in 1974. Services are still bilingual today, serving the older and younger generations alike.

During his visit, the President of Hungary also visited the headquarters of the local Hungarian Scouts. The first Hungarian Scout troop in the United States was founded in Cleveland. The organisation, which has been operating for 75 years, has been helping young people since 1951 to learn and preserve the Hungarian language, history and culture alongside scouting skills. Having observed the activities, Dr. Tamás Sulyok was able to see for himself how young people who play and learn in Hungarian are carrying on the community and national heritage of the Diaspora.