TISO, JOZEF. - Priest and politician, b. Oct. 13, 1887, at Vel'ká Bytča, d. Apr. 18, 1947 at Bratislava.
Born into a farming family, he completed his studies at Žilina, Nitra and at the Pázmaneum in Vienna, where he earned a doctorate in theology. Ordained a priest in 1910, he began his apostolate in various places as an assistant priest, 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, a post he held until his death. He soon joined Hlinka (v.) in the public and political activity of the Slovak People's Party, whose program was 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 went with the Party into opposition, which he led after Hlinka's death (1938). On Oct. 6, 1938, he proclaimed the autonomy of Slovakia at Žilina, and was president of the autonomous government at Bratislava. The Slovak Parliament decreed national independence on March 14, 1939. T. immediately assumed the presidency of the Council of Ministers, and in Oct. of the same year he received the office of president of the State. He governed the country until 1945, then taking refuge in Germany. Handed over by the Allies to the Prague government, he was con-
sentenced to death by a "people's" tribunal and hanged in Bratislava.
T. was an exemplary priest of blameless life; as president of the State he retained the office of parish priest at Bánovce. He turned to politics out of necessity, since at the beginning of the century the clergy were almost the only ones left to defend the rights of the Slovak people; he was therefore loved as a father by all. During T.'s government Slovakia made great progress in the cultural, economic and social fields, thus demonstrating its national self-sufficiency. Particularly noteworthy are 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 to the priest assisting him his spiritual testament, saying among other things: "I die as a martyr of the natural law given by God to each people to promote its freedom and as a defender of Christian civilization against communism."
Bibliography4 works
Michele Lacko