Pilgrim of Passau

Pilgrim of Passau, also called Pilgrim or Piligin, was bishop of Passau, born around the year 920 and died on 20 May 991. He had a role in the conversion of the Hungarians to Christianity. He is called a saint in the Catholic tradition.

He studied at the Benedictine abbey of Niederaltaich and was ordained priest. In 971 he received the episcopal see. After the conversion of the Hungarians began, the emperor Otto I entrusted its direction to him. Pilgrim wished to obtain the rank of archbishop of Lorch and did everything for the mission. To obtain the see of Lorch he even forged documents, five papal bulls, and in one he presented the bishopric of Lorch as an earlier institution of the diocese of Passau, with jurisdiction over Pannonia as well (today Transdanubia), so that he would have the right not only to the title of archbishop but also to rule over the Church in Hungary. With these papers he approached Pope Benedict VII in 974. In a letter he set out the results of his work among the Hungarians, claiming that up to then he had converted 5,000 Hungarians, which is doubtful, given that the letter was meant to win him the title of archbishop.

After the death of Otto I, Duke Henry II of Bavaria rose in rebellion against the new emperor, Otto II. Pilgrim stayed on the emperor's side, and so lost the trust of the Hungarians, allies of Henry, who ravaged his estates. Otto II finally defeated Henry and charged Margrave Leopold I of Austria with devastating the Hungarian lands. Pilgrim accompanied Leopold on the devastating campaigns until Leopold was defeated by the Hungarians in 984. Soon the Germans and Hungarians were reconciled; Pilgrim gave up the further direction of the missions, but carried out his episcopal duties until his death.