Václav Malý, a signatory of Charter 77, face of November 1989, Roman Catholic priest, and auxiliary bishop of Prague, is responsible for seminarians, young men preparing for priesthood within the archdiocese. He also strives to improve church music in sacral spaces together with organists.
Last time we met was five years ago, what has changed for you in that time?
Not much has changed, but unfortunately, many of my fellow comrades from Charter 77 and the Committee for the Defense of the Unjustly Persecuted have passed away. This has deeply affected me.
How are we supposed to cope with our loved ones passing on?
The passing of loved ones is, above all,a reminder for us. each of us must reckon with the fact that one day we will leave this world. Sooner or later. Therefore, we should try to make good use of the life we have been given. Gradually come to terms with our declining strength, but most importantly, strive to ensure that the relationships we have with other people are truly good and honest.
Looking back thirty-fve years, did what we were jingling our keys for back then come to pass?
I am not disappointed. But it is necessary to constantly emphasize that we live
in a democracy, that people have the opportunity to gather publicly and express their opinions. Naturally, I see that gaps between different social groups are widening. And that's very sad.
You were a spokesperson during the Velvet Revolution. Were you ever afraid, or did you feel euphoria?
At first, I was a bit worried that people wouldn’t come. After all, at that time, compared to Romania and Hungary, we weren't that badly off. People only criticized the regime in pubs or at home. Nobody was starving, there was work, people had housing, went on trade union vacations, sent their children to cheap summer camps, every other person owned a cabin and enjoyed peace and quiet. That’s how the communists kept people in check. Despite that, thousands came to the protests, even though those in power still had the means to suppress the uprising. But when, in the middle of the week, ten thousand workers from ČKD arrived, and Wenceslas Square parted to welcome them, I felt the greatest euphoria. Suddenly, it wasn’t just intellectuals protesting, but the working class as well, and that was bad news for the communists. But I must be fair and admit that the president of the USSR at the time, Mikhail Gorbachev, also helped, as he made it clear they wouldn’t intervene.
Václav Havel became a symbol of those events. What kind of person was he?
I was in close contact with Václav until 1989, and the Velvet Revolution was primarily his achievement. He was the driving force and became its symbol. He was a man who showed a better future and directed public appearances. “The gatherings must last only two hours; it's freezing cold. And they should start after work so as not to disrupt the economy,” he emphasized. When he became president, I saw him less. Not out of estrangement, but I respected that he needed some peace and quiet. At that time, crowds of people were flocking to the Castle, and one should have a sense of moderation.
Could there be a personality like him today?
I know quite a few solid people, but I wouldn’t say anyone would grow, with all due respect, into the role of Václav Havel. However, someone I have immense respect for is Marek Eben. I think people like him despite the differences between social groups. He knows how to cheer us all up with his kind yet sharp humor and sets an example by caring for his disabled wife over the years.
Another symbol of the revolution was Karel Kryl, who wasn‘t afraid to openly point out shortcomings even after the revolution. How do you remember him?
Karel Kryl was incredibly respected, even among the younger generation. After the events of 1989, he changed quite a bit, and I spoke to him about it. Karel couldn’t reconcile himself with the wild privatization that took place in our country; he didn’t like the change of loyalties and saw the world in black and white. It’s a shame that Václav Havel didn’t receive him at Prague Castle for a private audience. He received all sorts of people, but not him. I think it hurt Karel, though he never mentioned it. He definitely deserved that meeting.
Let‘s move to the present. In addition to working with seminarians, you lead the Justice and Peace initiative within the Czech Bishops‘ Conference. How do we ensure peace?
Peace must come from within.It’s important not to have prejudices and to be able to listen to someone with a different point of view. you can’t immediately write or someone who disagrees with you. We need to talk more, explain things to each other, and not make rash decisions. Peace begins with each of us, and it influences the way we all form the atmosphere in society together.
The war in Ukraine has divided the nation quite irreconcilably. What can be done?
It’s important to have a mature culture of discourse and not use offensive terms. It’s also essential to seek out serious information and be able to distinguish between truth and lies, truth and half- truths. Nowadays, things are often just “hinted at,” but it’s worth the effort to think about situations and events. Moreover, each of us can meet with or seek out someone who is well-versed in the situation. Above all, let’s not insult or label each other. It doesn’t bring peace to anyone and doesn’t solve anything.
You‘re right that insults and labeling are slowly becoming standard. It‘s no different with another topic, same-sex marriage, I assume that for you, the foundation remains the traditional family…
Of course! Family, the relationship between a man and a woman, the ability to have children - that remains the foundation for all future generations. That doesn’t mean we should condemn people who are oriented differently. But with all due respect, it doesn’t seem quite right for two men to raise a child. A child should grow up within the gender dichotomy - the roles of the father and mother are irreplaceable here. And as for the issue of “surrogate mothers” and having children for homosexual couples, that seems like a deviation from order to me. What’s most important for children is family stability; parents should talk to them and explain things. A person comes to understand their sexual orientation as they grow up. It seems highly inappropriate to burden young school children with such issues.
What was your childhood like?
I wish every child born today could know their mother’s touch, their father’s embrace, and the feeling of having a home and security. My parents gave me all of that, and I am immensely grateful to them. I grew up in modest circumstances, in a small apartment with three older sisters, and although it was sometimes a bit cramped, I learned to be considerate from a young age. I grew up in Prague in Žvahov, in a villa district above Zlíchov, which still has beautiful nature today. We used to play around the surrounding hills of Prokop Valley, and we even played football in the street. There was no traffic back then. That neighborhood is still very close to my heart; I had a wonderful childhood there.
Advent is coming soon. What would you wish for yourself and others during this time?
Advent today is more so a time of noise than quiet, and that saddens me. For Christians, Advent means the coming of light, and that light is Jesus. In that light, we see ourselves better, and we also see others better. Seeing that light in others, finding the good in everyone, contributes to better relationships and greater mutual understanding. It’s also important to be able to look upwards and rise above everyday worries. To see more broadly than just oneself and one’s immediate surroundings. Advent is an invitation to quiet down and reflect.
Václav Malý comes from a religious family, with both parents being deeply religious. “And they lived according to the principles they tried to pass on to us,” he adds. “For them, faith wasn’t an escape from life but a sincere daily effort to create a pleasant atmosphere around them. I really liked this approach to God. As a boy, I did serve as an altar boy at the church in Žlíchov, but I dreamed of studying Middle Eastern archaeology. I imagined myself working on excavations in places like Jordan, Iraq, or Syria. It wasn’t until I was nineteen, after a period of reflection that matured within me over time, that I made the final decision to become a priest. Deep inside, I felt the need to serve God, to show people direction in life, and to give them hope.”
CV BOX
Václav Malý (born on September 21, 1950,in Prague) is a Roman Catholic priest and auxiliary bishop of Prague.
In 1976, he graduated in theology and was ordained as a priest that same year. Between 1976 and 1978, he served as a chaplain in Vlašim and administrator in nearby Domašín, later as a chaplain in Plzeň and administrator in Litice.
In February 1977, he signed Charter 77, and in 1978 he became a member of the Committee for the Defense of the Unjustly Persecuted, which led to his arrest in 1979. From 1980 to 1986, he worked as a stoker. In November 1989, he became involved as a moderator of anti-communist demonstrations and co- founded the Civic Forum.
In 1996, he was appointed a canon of the Metropolitan Chapter at St. Vitus Cathedral. In 2002, and then again in 2005, 2008, 2011, and 2014, he was elected as its provost.
In December 1996, Pope John Paul II appointed him titular bishop of Marcella and auxiliary bishop of Prague. Since 2000, he has been the chairman of the Council for Justice and Peace (Justitia et Pax) within the Czech Bishops’ Conference, and since 2012, he has been the delegate responsible for caring for expatriates.
He enjoys reading, going to the theater, attending concerts, and visiting exhibitions.
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