Anna Vargova, a native of Nitra, has received the Benemerenti Medal from Pope Leo XIV for her meritorious service for the Church under Communism, the award was presented to her by Bishop of Nitra Viliam Judak.
Vargova participated in assisting priests and religious figures who were persecuted by the then-Communist regime. The priests celebrated secret masses on a daily basis at her family's house in the borough of Chrenova in Nitra. As a young girl, Anna was present and assisted as an altar server. While still a child, she also served as a secret courier between religious priests and nuns at the hospital in Nitra.
When the hidden priests were eventually found, it led to her 62-year-old father, Pavol Benc, receiving a 15-month sentence as a political prisoner. He shouldered the blame alone to protect his wife and Vargova's mother Helena Bencova from charges of complicity. Years later, Vargova would stand as a witness during the beatification of persecuted priest Jan Havlik.
When receiving the papal decoration, Vargova dedicated the award to her parents, highlighting the meaning and significance of such conduct under the Communist era, which also applies today as an example of faithfulness and enduring suffering for one's faith.
Originally a military decoration awarded to soldiers who fought courageously in the Papal Army, the Benemerenti Medal is now a civil decoration which may still be awarded to members of the Pope's Swiss Guard.
Source: TASR
