Hungary – Pope Francis concludes International Eucharistic Congress and indicates ways for peace and conversion

13 September 2021
Photo © Vatican Media

(ANS - Budapest) - A Sunday for two countries, two capitals, two peoples: Pope Francis began his apostolic journey yesterday, 12 September, the first in Europe after the pandemic, and he reached Budapest where, among the various appointments, he presided over the concluding Mass of the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress; and then Bratislava, where he began his visit under the theme "With Mary and Joseph on the way to Jesus".

Arriving early in the morning (7:45 am) in Budapest, the Holy Father, after the first tributes already received at the airport, went to the Museum of Fine Arts, where he had a private meeting with the President of the Hungarian Republic, János Áder, and the Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, during which they talked about the role of the Church in the country, about the commitment to safeguard the environment, and about the defense and promotion of the family.

At the end of the meeting, Pope Francis went to the Renaissance Hall of the Museum and met the Bishops of the Hungarian Bishops' Conference. He reminded them of the bright past of the Hungarian Church, “with its long history, marked by an unshakable faith, persecutions and the blood of martyrs”; and he offered indications on how the Church can continue to bring Christ the Eucharist to the world: in the first place, being "heralds of the Gospel", then "witnesses of fraternity", then "builders of hope".

Also in the Museum of Fine Arts, the Holy Father had a meeting with the representatives of the Ecumenical Council of Churches and of several Jewish communities of Hungary. After listening to the other interventions, the Pope gave his own, in which he affirmed: "In the Scriptures, those especially called to follow the Lord must always set out on a journey towards unexplored lands and unfamiliar places. ... leave behind our past misunderstandings... take the path that leads towards God’s promise of peace.” And as a metaphor for this reconciliation between the different parts, he proposed "the evocative image of the Chain Bridge, which connects the two parts of this city: the bridge does not fuse those two parts together, but rather holds them together.  This is how the bonds between us must be.”

Finally, Pope Francis presided over the concluding Mass of the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress. In his homily, referring to the Gospel of the day, the Holy Father illustrated the three steps of the "renewal of discipleship", which also belong to every Christian: to welcome, in fullness, the announcement of Jesus; make discernment with Jesus; and walk behind Jesus tracing his steps.

“This International Eucharistic Congress is a point of arrival, but above all a point of departure. Because the journey behind Jesus invites us to look ahead, to welcome the turning point of grace,” he said.

In the early afternoon, Pope Francis left Budapest and began his journey to Slovakia, where, after being welcomed by the authorities, he had another ecumenical meeting, at the Apostolic Nunciature in Bratislava, and a meeting with the Jesuits present in the country.

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