Pope Francis will meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the President of the Magyar Republic, Janos Ader, on the occasion of his trip to Budapest, for the closing of the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress. It is almost certain that Patriarch Bartholomew will also be present. The confirmation arrived directly from the Congress’ Secretary, Father Kornél Fábry after the program of the Holy Father’s visit was made official to the organizers. Father Kornél had a meeting online with some journalists, organized by the Iscom Association, in connection from Esztergom, city some fifty kilometers from the capital, close to the border with Slovakia.
Lunch with 700 Poor
“We are in the middle of the theological symposium that precedes the Congress – he explained – with close to 250 scientists and theologians from Europe, Africa <and> South America, to talk about Eucharistic subjects. It’s an event that will conclude tomorrow, with a lunch together with 700 poor. We don’t want to distribute food but lunch with them, in sign of sharing. Then there will be a concert in the evening, with Jewish and Christian music, in the largest synagogue of Central Europe.”
First Communion for 1,100 Children
Father Kornél explained in detail the preparation for the Congress and its program, beginning with the opening Mass on Sunday at 4:00 p, during which 1,100 children will receive their First Communion. Then from Monday to Friday the plan will be quite similar: Praises, catecheses, testimonies and Holy Mass before lunch, four workshops in the afternoon, in a park area that can host 6,000 people. “On Saturday the day will be dedicated to families, in Saint Margaret’s Island, with different activities before the Mass at 5:00 pm in, front of the Hungarian Parliament. It will be presided over by Cardinal Erdo (Archbishop of Budapest, ndr) with 700 altar servers who will then take part in the Eucharistic procession to “Heroes’ Square.” “A very beautiful, modern Monstrance will be used for Adoration, with a Host of 18 centimeters in diameter.”
Meetings with Orban and Representatives of the Churches
However, the most awaited event, without a doubt, is the closing Mass on Sunday, September 12, which Pope Francis will celebrate. Gates open from 6:00 am and from 9:00 am a program to prepare for the celebration. “We expect 100,000 pilgrims — said Father Kornél. We are very honored to welcome the Pope because a Pontiff has not taken part personally in a Eucharistic Congress since 2000.” Responding to a question of Exaudi, the priest explained that “the Holy Father will arrive in the airport at 8:00 am and will go to Heroes Square, where he will meet Prime Minister Orban and President Ader, then the representatives of the different Churches. In fact, it will be an inter-religious meeting, given the presence also of Jewish representatives.
Bartholomew Is Expected
Almost certain also is the presence of Bartholomew, the Patriarch of Constantinople. “After all, it’s an optimum place for a meeting between East and West, between Catholics and Orthodox,” said Father Kornél. After a tour in the popemobile, at 11:30 am the Holy Father will celebrate Mass, before proceeding for his trip to Slovakia.
The Pope’s Visit Is An Honour
It is a circumstance that, especially at the beginning, aroused some discontent among Hungarian faithful, but “then they understood,” explained Father Kornél. The Pope was invited to the Eucharistic Congress, not to visit the country; otherwise, he would surely have stayed longer. However, if someone invites me to supper, I cannot stay also to sleep, said the priest with a pinch of healthy irony. The fact is that 25 years after Saint John Paul II’s visit, it is a great honor for us to have the Pontiff here.”
The Migrants Question
The subject of Orban and the alleged disagreements with Pope Francis were the object of several questions, in particular, on the migratory question. “The majority of Hungarians think of it as Premier Orban does: they don’t want to bring trouble in Europe but want to help where there is trouble. We’re not a very rich country but, for example, we have a program with which much aid was given to Syria. We hold that everyone has the right to live worthily in their own country, in peace. It’s necessary to do everything to make it possible, to help those in need in their country.”
However, beyond the “political” questions, what is of interest is the fruits of the Eucharistic Congress. Pilgrims from 70 countries are expected. On Wednesday there will be a Mass with the Greek-Catholic rite, celebrated by some thirty Bishops in Saint Stephen’s Basilica, which the day after will see 150 priests available for Confessions. Held contemporaneously will be the Communities’ Adoration, with songs sent from the different Religious Communities and a choir of their representatives, made up of 40 singers and 25 musicians.
Event for Young People
There will be an event for young people on Friday in the Laszlo Papp Stadium: 12,000 seats are already sold. Foreseen, among other things, is a concert and two testimonies of conversion, the first of a father of a family, who had himself baptized after being in a coma due to an accident and who said he had seen hell; the second, of an Austrian human rights activist, who converted thanks to the Eucharist.
As a corollary of the Congress, there will be some very interesting exhibitions: on the Eucharistic Congress of 1938 in Budapest, “the last year of peace before World War II,” said Father Kornél; one on icons and buildings of the Greek-Catholic Church and one on Caritas’ activities.
Conversions
After four years of preparation (the Congress was postponed for a year due to the pandemic, ndr) we have two objectives,” explained Father Kornél: “To strengthen faith in the Eucharist and to evangelize. We will be visible also outside the churches and we hope that people, also the most distant people, can ask themselves: who are these people? Why are they so happy? We want to give witness so that people will pose questions to themselves. Pray for us, because we are sleeping little and working a lot and we expect many fruits of conversion.”
Translation by Virginia M. Forrester
