At the start of his four-day “pilgrimage to the heart of Europe” in Hungary, Pope Francis called for bridges between religions and for openness to the “thirsty of today”.
In front of more than 100,000 believers and pilgrims on Budapest's Heroes' Square and along Andrássy út, the Pope celebrated mass at the end of the 52nd World Eucharistic Congress on Sunday afternoon.
Matthias Rüb
Political correspondent for Italy, the Vatican, Albania and Malta based in Rome.
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In the afternoon, Francis traveled on to Bratislava (Pressburg) in neighboring Slovakia, where until Wednesday, in addition to the capital on the Danube, he also visited the cities of Košice (Kaschau) and Prešov in the east and the Marian pilgrimage site of Šaštín-Stráže (Schossberg-Strascha) in Will visit northwest of the country.
Immediately after his arrival in the morning at the Museum of Fine Arts on Heldenplatz, Francis met with the Hungarian state and government for a private meeting.
The half-hour meeting with President János Áder, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén went according to the Vatican "in a warm atmosphere".
The conversation was about shared responsibility for environmental protection and the protection and promotion of the family, the Vatican said.
In addition to Francis, Cardinal State Secretary Pietro Parolin and the Vatican's foreign representative Archbishop Paul Gallagher also took part in the conversation.
Prime Minister Orbán posted a photo of the meeting on his Facebook page with the words: “I asked Pope Francis not to let Christian Hungary go under.” Independent media criticized Orbán for using the photo with his personal logo the parliamentary elections in the coming spring and thus abused the meeting with the Pope for election campaign purposes.
The national-conservative government of Orbán explicitly represents positions that are anti-migration and also anti-Islamic and thus stands in clear contradiction to the demands of the Pope for a general culture of welcome in Europe.
After meeting the political leadership, the Pope first met with the Catholic bishops of Hungary and then with representatives of various Christian denominations and Judaism.
In view of the numerous cultural, ethnic, political and religious differences in Central Europe, there are two attitudes, the Pope told the bishops: “Either we close ourselves in a rigid defense of our so-called identity.
Or we open up to meet the other and cultivate the dream of a fraternal society together. "
Fight against anti-Semitism
In his address to religious representatives, Francis called for a determined fight against anti-Semitism: “This is a glowing fuse that must be trodden out.” In Europe and all over the world, the smoldering hatred of Jews must be countered by a willingness to cooperate and to promote brotherhood.
Afterwards, Francis let himself be driven through the streets around Heldenplatz and above all across Andrássy út in an open Popemobile - a converted Dodge pickup.
The Pope had toddlers handed over to him several times, blessed and kissed them, and waved to the crowd in a visibly tidy mood.
The government in Budapest had lifted almost all pandemic-related restrictions for participation in the World Eucharistic Congress from September 5th to 12th and for the closing mass in late summer weather. In his sermon as well as in the address at the end of the mass, Francis reiterated the demand for openness and respect for others. "My wish is that you may be firm and open at the same time, both rooted and respectful," said the Pope. Hungary is true to its roots and has defended its Christian identity over the centuries. But the cross is also an invitation to spread your arms instead of barricading yourself, said Francis.
The “decisive difference” is that “between the true God and the idol of our selves,” said the Pope.
The Savior Jesus Christ, "who rules in silence on the cross", is the exact opposite of that "false God, of whom we wish that he would rule by force and silence our enemies".
In his address at the end of the Mass, which was also attended by President Áder, Prime Minister Orbán and Vice Prime Minister Semjén with their wives, Cardinal Peter Erdö, Bishop of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest, took up the Pope's call for dialogue and reconciliation.
"We feel called to build bridges between East and West, between different cultural and religious worlds and between different nations," said Erdö.
For his part, Pope Francis said goodbye to the believers on Heldenplatz with the Hungarian words “Isten, álld meg a magyart” (God bless Hungarians), the first verse of the national anthem. They then sang the hymn and passed the Pope with sustained applause.