Pope in Hungary: "The poor and the needy are at the heart of the Gospel".The Pope's message in the Hungarian Book of HonorPope Francis early this morning began the second day of his apostolic journey to Hungary. Shortly before 9 a.m., he paid a visit to the Catholic center dedicated to Blessed László Batthyány-Strattmann, which includes an institute for the blind and a home for visually impaired children with special educational needs.
After entering some of the rooms that house the little ones, some of whom are seriously ill, the Holy Father wanted to express his gratitude for all that this institute accomplishes, thanks to the generosity of its workers. "This is pure Gospel. Jesus came to take reality as it was and to carry it forward. It would have been easier to take ideas, ideologies and carry them forward without taking reality into account. This is the Gospel way, this is the way of Jesus," said the Pope, addressing the director of the center, Father György Inotay, arm in arm.
Embracing the poor and refugees
Afterwards, it was in the church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary where the Pontiff ideally embraced all the refugees and the poor of the country. The parish was packed with 600 people from all over the country and refugees from different parts of the world such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Nigeria.
Pope Francis was moved to listen to the testimonies of a refugee family from Ukraine, of the mother of a Greek Catholic family and of a married couple who dedicate their lives to welcoming and supporting those most in need. In his address, the Holy Father recalled that "charity is not simply material and social assistance, but is concerned with the whole person and desires to set him or her on his or her feet with the love of Jesus: a love that helps to acquire beauty and dignity."
The Pope with the Greek-Catholic community
A few steps from the Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary is the parish dedicated to the protection of the Mother of God. And it was here that, immediately after his embrace of the poor and refugees, Pope Francis met with the Greek Catholic community of Budapest.
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Hajdudorog, Msgr. Péter Fülöp Kocsis, welcomed the Pontiff in what turned out to be a brief visit in which there was no speech by the Pope. In his welcoming address, the Archbishop wanted to emphasize how the proximity of the two churches, one of Latin rite and the other of Byzantine rite, represent "the poetic and theological image of the two lungs, that of the East and that of the West, with which the Church of Christ breathes, giving life to the Mystical Body".
Pope to young people: aim high, Jesus believes in you
Take in your hands "your life to help the world to live in peace. Let us ask ourselves, each one of us: what am I doing for others, for the Church, for society? Do I live thinking of my own good or do I put myself at stake for someone else, without calculating my own interests? ".
To the thousands of young Hungarians gathered this afternoon at the László Papp Budapest Sports Arena - the last public meeting today before the private meeting this afternoon with members of the Society of Jesus - the Pope addressed these profound questions, suggesting that they begin to ask themselves about the ability to love according to Jesus, that is, to serve. After listening to the testimonies of the young people, Francis also exhorted them to overcome every obstacle by placing themselves in close relationship with the Lord: "Prayer," said the Pope, "helps to do this, because it is a dialogue with Jesus.
The Pope and the Orthodox Metropolitan Hilarion
There was also an unscheduled audience. This morning, at the end of the first part of the day's engagements, at the nunciature in Budapest, the Pope received privately the Orthodox Metropolitan of Budapest and Hungary, Hilarion. The Holy See Press Office reported that "the conversation was cordial and lasted about 20 minutes".
