Religion – Schönborn at the Pope’s Mass in Budapest

Budapest. Pope Francis is currently on a three-day visit to Hungary. In Budapest, he first met President Katalin Novak, and then Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. In a meeting with politicians and diplomats, the Pope condemned nationalism and recalled the importance of common European policies for peace. “In general, the enthusiasm for building a peaceful and stable community of states seems to have dissipated in the minds,” Pope Francis said.

At the meeting in the former Carmelite monastery in Budapest, the official residence of national conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Francis opposed the pursuit of his strategic interests in international politics. Peace comes from “the kinds of politics that are able to take all, and develop all, into account.”

The visit to Hungary is Francis’ first since his recent hospitalization. The official pastoral visit scheduled through Sunday is the pope’s 41st trip abroad, and after a short half-day visit for the closing service of the World Eucharistic Conference in September 2021, it will be his second stay in Budapest. For the first time since the Russian attack, the 86-year-old church leader is visiting Ukraine’s neighboring country.

Before the Pope’s visit, President Novak described Francis as a man of peace. She is confident that Francis will bring new hope to Hungary with his message of peace. She appreciated his willingness to play a mediating role in the search for a solution.

A highlight of the papal program is a meeting with the poor and refugees on Saturdays in the Elisabeth Church on Rosenplatz, near the Keleti train station. Through a visit to the Batthian Stratman Catholic Institute for Children and Youth with Disabilities, Francis identified other social accents.

Francis will celebrate Sunday morning with a key service on Kossuth Square in front of the world famous Hungarian Parliament building. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Bishop Hermann Gleitler of Innsbruck and Auxiliary Bishop of St. Bolten Anton Lichtfried will also celebrate the Divine Liturgy from Austria. After a meeting with representatives of science and culture at the Catholic University of Peter Pazmani, the Pope will return to Rome on Sunday evening.