TISO, JOZEF. – Priest and politician, b. 13 Oct. 1887, at Vel'ká Bytča, d. 18 Apr. 1947 at Bratislava.
Born into a farming family, he pursued his studies at Žilina, Nitra, and the Pázmaneum in Vienna, where he earned a degree in theology. Ordained a priest in 1910, he began his apostolate in various places as an assistant priest; he then became secretary to the bishop of Nitra and spiritual director at the Seminary. In 1924 he was appointed parish priest and later dean at Bánovec nad Bebravou, an office he retained until his death. Hlinka (v.) in the public and political activities of the Slovak People’s Party, whose programme called for national autonomy and the safeguarding of Catholic principles. Elected deputy (1925), in 1927 he became minister of public health in the Prague government. In 1929 he and the Party moved into opposition, which he led after Hlinka’s death (1938). On 6 Oct. 1938 he proclaimed Slovakia’s autonomy at Žilina and became president of the autonomous government in Bratislava. On 14 March 1939 the Slovak Parliament decreed national independence. T. immediately assumed the presidency of the Council of Ministers, and in Oct. of the same year became head of state. He governed the country until 1945, then taking refuge in Germany. Handed over by the Allies to the Prague government, he was con-
T. was a priest exemplary in his blameless life; as president of the State, he retained the office of parish priest at Bánovce. He entered politics out of necessity, since at the beginning of the century almost only the clergy remained to defend the rights of the Slovak people; he was therefore loved by all as a father. During T.’s government, Slovakia made great progress in the cultural, economic, and social spheres, thus demonstrating its national self-sufficiency. Particularly noteworthy is T.’s social doctrine and practice, in accordance with the papal encyclicals. His government had the misfortune of being hampered by the war and by the interference of Bolshevism.
A few hours before his death, he dictated his spiritual testament to the priest assisting him, saying, among other things: “I die as a martyr for the natural law given by God to every people to promote its freedom, and as a defender of Christian civilization against communism.”