He was Bishop of Veszprém from 1499 to 1501, of Várad (present-day Oradea in Romania) from 1501 to 1505, of Pécs from 1505 to 1522, and Archbishop of Esztergom from 1522 until his death.

George Szatmári was born around 1457 into a wealthy burgher family of German origin in Kassa (present-day Košice in Slovakia).

[4] After his father died in 1464, George was placed under the guardianship of his uncle, Francis Szatmári, the richest citizen of Kassa and mayor of the town in 1477.

[9] In 1500, the Diet passed a decree that declared that no one except for Szatmári was entitled to hold more than one ecclesiastical office in the Kingdom of Hungary.

[8] Szatmári and Bakócz were the most influential figures of the government,[8] and the two cooperated closely to diminish the influence of the Diet on state administration.

[10] The 1505 Diet passed a resolution that prohibited the election of a foreign king after Vladislaus's dead, although Szatmári and his allies had openly opposed the decision.

[5] A new church tabernacle made of red marble was placed in the cathedral, the episcopal palace was enlarged with a Renaissance level and an open staircase, and a new villa was built on the Tettye hill.

[5] He held conferences with the participation of prominent Humanist scholars, including Girolamo Balbi (who was a friend of Erasmus of Rotterdam), and Nicholas Oláh.

[14] Taking advantage of his popularity among the noblemen, John Zápolya ensured that Szatmári was dismissed and Gregory Frankopan, Archbishop of Kalocsa, was made chancellor in his stead.

[3] Benedict Chelidonius dedicated his Voluptatis cum Virtute disceptatio ("Debate of Desire and Virtue") to Szatmári.

[15] His tutors, George, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, and John Bornemissza, Castellan of Buda, were supporters of a pro-Habsburg policy.