During his 41st international trip to Hungary, Pope Francis addressed audiences ranging from politicians to refugees.
His first official meeting featured Hungarian President Katalin Novák and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The Pope spoke out against dangers facing Europe.
POPE FRANCIS
This is the harmful path of 'ideological colonization,' which eliminates differences, as in the case of the so-called gender culture, or puts reductive concepts of freedom before the reality of life. For example, boasting as an achievement a senseless 'right to abortion,' which is always a tragic defeat.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is one of the most resitant European leaders regarding the reception of refugees. However, when war broke out in Ukraine, his country welcomed thousands of civilians fleeing the invasion. The Pope thanked the Hungarians for their generosity.
Pope Francis also praised the faith of Hungarians and encouraged them to continue sharing it. But he also told them that in today's secularized world, it was important not to fall into polarization.
POPE FRANCIS
We also see in this country, where faith is well rooted, we are witnessing the spread of secularism.
And then the temptation may be to harden oneself, to shut oneself off and adapt a combative attitude.
On his last day in Hungary, the Pope celebrated Mass in Budapest. At the end, he prayed the Regina Coeli. In front of 50,000 people, he expressed how the unity between different Christian groups after decades of Soviet persecution impacted him.
POPE FRANCIS
It is beautiful when the borders do not represent frontiers that separate us but zones that connect us. And when believers in Christ emphasize first the charity that unites and not the historical, cultural and religious differences that divide.
On his trip to Hungary—a country neighboring Ukraine—Pope Francis did not shy away from messages of unity and peace: topics that became central themes of his trip.
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