During a holy mass in the Hungarian capital Budapest, Pope Francis asked the faithful to be open. It is sad and hurts “to see doors closed to people,” the head of the Catholic Church said during the service in Kossuth Square on Sunday morning. Above all, he criticized the “closed doors to strangers, to others, to migrants, to the poor”. “Please, let’s open the doors,” he said in front of about 50,000 visitors.
The 86-year-old also commemorated those who live in suffering and poverty or “out of line”. “Being open and inclusive with each other to help Hungary grow in brotherhood, which is the way to peace” is the need of the hour. His comments in Hungary were eagerly awaited. The call to open the doors could be interpreted as a criticism of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s policy of cutting off migrants. Orban rejects the immigration of migrants and therefore had fences erected on the border with Serbia. He sees himself as a protector of Christian values.
After the prayer, Francis again spoke of peace and remembered the “tormented neighboring Ukrainian people and the Russian people”. He advocated a “future of hope, not war” and a “world of brotherhood, not walls”.
cheers and applause
About 25,000 people took place in the square in front of the Hungarian parliament. Thousands of believers also followed the fair on large screens outside the area. The Hungarian state leadership also took part in the fair – President Katalin Novak and Prime Minister Orban were in the audience. Also present was the mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karacsony, who had received the pope on Saturday. The green-liberal Karacsony is a major political opponent of the right-wing populist Orban.
Francis rode through the ranks of visitors and worshipers in his famous Popemobile to cheers and applause. According to official figures, up to 80,000 people lined the streets. He greeted those in attendance and kissed and blessed several babies along the way who were handed to him in the Popemobile.
“It is very special to see the Pope up close,” says 21-year-old student Levente Kiss. “He’s very important in my life,” said another viewer after Francis drove past him.
The fair marked the ceremonial conclusion of his visit to Hungary.
Francis’s 41st trip abroad
The pope’s second visit to Budapest focused on the war in neighboring Ukraine. Meeting with refugees from Ukraine, the pope thanked Hungary for taking the people in and warned of the “evil of indifference”.
It is the pope’s 41st trip abroad since taking office in 2013 and his first visit abroad following a three-day hospitalization for bronchitis.
Source: Krone
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