2023-04-30 11:48:46
Pope Francis held a large outdoor Mass in Budapest. In a sermon, the pontiff urged Hungarians to let migrants into the country, emphasizing that the closed door policy is contrary to the gospel teachings. Over 50,000 people attended the service.
The right-wing government of Viktor Orban has consistently pursued a tough anti-immigration policy. Back in 2016, the prime minister announced that he would amend the country’s constitution to tighten national migration laws (a referendum on this issue failed). Later, in 2017, the prime minister suggested that all illegal migrants be forced out of the EU.
“(Must be avoided.—“uh”) closed doors in the context of the growing isolation of society; (avoid.-“uh”) closed doors and indifference to the disadvantaged and those who suffer, ”said the pontiff (quote – Reutres).
Pope Francis stressed that migrants fleeing poverty should be welcomed and integrated because they can enrich the culture of the host countries and replenish Europe’s dwindling population. The pontiff remarked that while countries have the right to defend their borders, migrants must be distributed throughout the European Union.
On a visit to Budapest, Pope Francis arrived the day before, on April 29. On the day of his arrival, the pontiff met with Ukrainian refugees in the Church of St. Elizabeth, as well as with the former head of the department for external church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Hilarion of Budapest and Hungary.
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