On the flight from Rome to Budapest, Pope Francis greeted the 73 journalists from more than 10 countries, including 8 from Hungary.
On previous trips this past year, Pope Francis had journalists come to his seat to greet them. But for this flight, he returned to the tradition of greeting each of them at their seats.
Many of them presented the Pope with gifts, including this bottle and compass from the beach of Cutro, Italy. Two months ago, 200 people died after a migrant shipwreck.
It is a compass that refugees always carry when they want to cross the Mediterranean. The truth is that I find it quite moving.
Speaking with a journalist from the Polish news agency PAP, the Pope called the accusations about Pope John Paul II in the Emanuela Orlandi case “nonsense.”
After making his rounds, Pope Francis joked with the journalists after the microphone initallity had audio problems.
This is like wayward children. Now you can hear me. Have a good trip everyone. Thank you.
Upon arriving in Hungary, Pope Francis used an elevator to deboard the plane. He did not use his wheelchair as he had in previous trips over the last year and he was able to greet the crowds using his cane.
KG
