ROME, Wednesday. THOUGH Cardinal Koenig's
intended visit to Czechoslovakia has been postponed. because his visa has not yet arrived, . there is much optimism here in Rome about the early resumption of negotiations with Hungary.
U Thant, the U.N. Secretary General, who recently talked to Hungarian leaders in Budapest, is expected here tomorrow to meet Pope Paul.
The Holy Father has given a private audience to two Hungarian prelates who attended his coronation. Bishop Endre Hamvas of Csanad. acting head of the Church in Hungary; and Mgr. Pal Brezanoczy, apostolic administrator of Eger.
Reports from Budapest indicate that the life of the Church sprang into a new phase of vitality from the start of the Vatican Council. Many priests are back on the job as the result of an amnesty. Bishops were allowed to go to the Councils first session. Deputy Premier Gyula Kallai is reported to have said that Hungary will approve the appointment of Bishops to vacant sees.
`OPTIMISTIC'
The Deputy Premier paid high tribute to Pope John, and three cabinet ministers attended a Requiem Mass for the dead Pontiff in Budapest. Jozsef Pratzner, head of the Religious Affairs Bureau, has recently, for the first time, attended the graduation celebrations of a theological academy and talked cordially with the Dean, Abbot Janos Pfeifer.
On arrival in Rome for the coronation, Bishop Hamvas himself said he was "very optimistic about the possibility of reopening negotiations" over Cardinal Mindszenty and the condition of the Church in Hungary. He added : "On the part of the Hungarian government there is goodwill."
It has been thought that Cardinal Mindszenty would not leave the U.S. Legation in Budapest until assured of a tougher successor than Bishop Hamvas. Asked in Rome to comment on his relations with the Cardinal, Bishop Hamvas refused.