It was the first time that Pope Francis has visited Hungary.Continue reading
Pope Francis gave a private audience to Cardinal Péter Erdő on Saturday, nearly two weeks after his visit to the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest, Norbert Németh, Rector of the Papal Hungarian Institute of Rome, told MTI.
The Holy Father spoke about the tasks ahead the Hungarian Catholic Church and Europe, he said.
Cardinal Erdő, the archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, expressed thanks to the pope for the September 12 visit and his celebration of the closing mass of the congress.
While in Budapest, Pope Francis met President János Áder, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, members of the Hungarian Catholic Bishops’ Conference and representatives of the ecumenical churches and the Jewish community.
Pope Francis once again highlighted the positive experience he gained in Hungary and the cordial talk he had with Hungary’s leaders. He also stressed the importance of returning to the original values of the founders of the European Union, Németh said.
On Saturday evening Erdő will attend the consecration of the Saint Stephen House, the Hungarian pilgrims’ hostel in Rome, renovated with support from the Hungarian government.
Featured photo by Zoltán Máthé/MTI