Pope Francis says "Pray for...the desire to build peace, to give the young generations a future of hope, not of war; a future of full cradles, not tombs; a world of fraternity..." to Pilgrims from Hungary
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This morning, in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father Francis received 1,200 pilgrims from Hungary in audience and gave them the speech reported below:
Speech by the Holy Father
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome! Isten hozott!
I greet all of you, who have come to confirm your bond with the Successor of Peter and to make your profession of faith, in this Easter season in which the Risen Lord enlightens us and gives us hope that does not disappoint. I greet Cardinal Péter Erdő, Primate of Hungary. I greet the President of the Hungarian Episcopal Conference, Monsignor András Veres, all the Bishops present, the priests, the consecrated, the lay faithful. I greet the civil authorities, in particular I am pleased to welcome the new President of Hungary, Mr. Tamás Sulyok.
Your pilgrimage takes place one year after my Apostolic Journey to Hungary, which I carry in my heart with great gratitude. This is why I like to remember it today, remembering that I came among you as a pilgrim, as a brother and as a friend.
In Budapest, a beautiful city of bridges and saints, I was a pilgrim to pray together with you. Pray for Europe, for «the desire to build peace, to give the young generations a future of hope, not of war; a future full of cradles, not tombs; a world of fraternity, not of walls" (Regina Caeli, 30 April 2023). I prayed for your dear Nation, which has inhabited that land for a millennium and fertilized it with the Gospel of Christ. In prayer may you always find the strength and determination to follow, even in the current historical context, the example of the Saints and Blesseds born from your people.
The Risen One, appearing among his disciples, gave them peace. Let us not forget, brothers and sisters, that the realization of this great gift begins in the heart of each of us; it begins in front of the door of my house when, before going out, I decide whether I want to live that day as a man or a woman of peace, that is, to live in peace with others. Peace comes when I decide to forgive, even if it is difficult, and this fills my heart with joy. Once again I entrust the Church in your country to the intercession of the Magna Domina Hungarorum, of Saint Stephen, Saint Ladislaus, Saint Elizabeth, Saint Emeric and of all the Saints and Blesseds: may it be strengthened in the ardor of testimony and in the joy of announcement.
In addition to being a pilgrim, I wanted to come among you as a brother. Especially in the meeting with you, dear Bishops, dear priests, men and women religious. I have encouraged you to adopt the "style of God" as an attitude and lifestyle, which is made of tenderness, closeness and compassion. Don't forget this: God's style is tenderness, closeness and compassion. In this, recent examples from the time of persecution help you, such as that of Blessed Vilmos Apor, who had to pay with his life for his closeness and defense of refugee women. Or that of Zoltán Meszlényi, who served him with such dedication until the last moment of his life. And how can we fail to remember the young priest János Brenner? Driven by tenderness and pastoral zeal, he went to comfort a presumed sick person by bringing him Communion, without suspecting that he was a trap and that he would be barbarously killed. Or even Sára Salkaházi, who during the Nazi deportation of the Jews had compassion for the victims, so much so that he suffered martyrdom under the Freedom Bridge in Pest. May these examples inspire you to have the same attitudes toward those entrusted to your care.
And then I wanted to be together with you as a friend. In particular, I remember with great joy the meeting with you, dear young people. I still want to encourage you to walk in dialogue with the generations that preceded you. Talking with grandparents, with the elderly of your people; to look for the roots, because in this way you will lay solid foundations for the future. By safeguarding your roots you will be able to look forward with confidence, strengthening yourself in the values that give life: family, unity, peace. I like that very evangelical proverb of yours: “Better to give than to receive” – Jobb adni mind kapni. It's exactly like this: by giving oneself one finds oneself and his life does not remain empty.
As a friend I have also met people in conditions of suffering: refugees, the poor, the marginalized. I thank you because you have an open heart towards the Ukrainian refugees who left their country due to the war. And I also appreciate your efforts to integrate those who live on the peripheries of society.
Speech by the Holy Father
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome! Isten hozott!
I greet all of you, who have come to confirm your bond with the Successor of Peter and to make your profession of faith, in this Easter season in which the Risen Lord enlightens us and gives us hope that does not disappoint. I greet Cardinal Péter Erdő, Primate of Hungary. I greet the President of the Hungarian Episcopal Conference, Monsignor András Veres, all the Bishops present, the priests, the consecrated, the lay faithful. I greet the civil authorities, in particular I am pleased to welcome the new President of Hungary, Mr. Tamás Sulyok.
Your pilgrimage takes place one year after my Apostolic Journey to Hungary, which I carry in my heart with great gratitude. This is why I like to remember it today, remembering that I came among you as a pilgrim, as a brother and as a friend.
In Budapest, a beautiful city of bridges and saints, I was a pilgrim to pray together with you. Pray for Europe, for «the desire to build peace, to give the young generations a future of hope, not of war; a future full of cradles, not tombs; a world of fraternity, not of walls" (Regina Caeli, 30 April 2023). I prayed for your dear Nation, which has inhabited that land for a millennium and fertilized it with the Gospel of Christ. In prayer may you always find the strength and determination to follow, even in the current historical context, the example of the Saints and Blesseds born from your people.
The Risen One, appearing among his disciples, gave them peace. Let us not forget, brothers and sisters, that the realization of this great gift begins in the heart of each of us; it begins in front of the door of my house when, before going out, I decide whether I want to live that day as a man or a woman of peace, that is, to live in peace with others. Peace comes when I decide to forgive, even if it is difficult, and this fills my heart with joy. Once again I entrust the Church in your country to the intercession of the Magna Domina Hungarorum, of Saint Stephen, Saint Ladislaus, Saint Elizabeth, Saint Emeric and of all the Saints and Blesseds: may it be strengthened in the ardor of testimony and in the joy of announcement.
In addition to being a pilgrim, I wanted to come among you as a brother. Especially in the meeting with you, dear Bishops, dear priests, men and women religious. I have encouraged you to adopt the "style of God" as an attitude and lifestyle, which is made of tenderness, closeness and compassion. Don't forget this: God's style is tenderness, closeness and compassion. In this, recent examples from the time of persecution help you, such as that of Blessed Vilmos Apor, who had to pay with his life for his closeness and defense of refugee women. Or that of Zoltán Meszlényi, who served him with such dedication until the last moment of his life. And how can we fail to remember the young priest János Brenner? Driven by tenderness and pastoral zeal, he went to comfort a presumed sick person by bringing him Communion, without suspecting that he was a trap and that he would be barbarously killed. Or even Sára Salkaházi, who during the Nazi deportation of the Jews had compassion for the victims, so much so that he suffered martyrdom under the Freedom Bridge in Pest. May these examples inspire you to have the same attitudes toward those entrusted to your care.
And then I wanted to be together with you as a friend. In particular, I remember with great joy the meeting with you, dear young people. I still want to encourage you to walk in dialogue with the generations that preceded you. Talking with grandparents, with the elderly of your people; to look for the roots, because in this way you will lay solid foundations for the future. By safeguarding your roots you will be able to look forward with confidence, strengthening yourself in the values that give life: family, unity, peace. I like that very evangelical proverb of yours: “Better to give than to receive” – Jobb adni mind kapni. It's exactly like this: by giving oneself one finds oneself and his life does not remain empty.
As a friend I have also met people in conditions of suffering: refugees, the poor, the marginalized. I thank you because you have an open heart towards the Ukrainian refugees who left their country due to the war. And I also appreciate your efforts to integrate those who live on the peripheries of society.
Dear brothers and sisters, thank you for your closeness and affection! Let us walk together on the path of the Lord as "Easter" men and women, and let us recognize him in the breaking of bread, at the Eucharistic table and at that of the hungry; in his Word and in encounters with others. Thank you for your loyalty to Christ, manifested in the testimony of faith and in lived ecumenism, in relationships with your neighbors, in welcoming charity even for those who are different, in respect for every human life and in responsible care for the environment.
I bless you from the bottom of my heart, and may Our Lady keep you. Isten áld meg a magyart! – God bless the Hungarians! And please continue to pray for me. Thank you!
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