Pope Francis arrived in Budapest this morning for his long-awaited apostolic journey to Hungary.
The pontiff, who will be in the country between 28 and 30 April, was greeted at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén and Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó. Church representatives included Cardinal Péter Erdő, the Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Bishop András Veres, the head of the Conference of Hungarian Catholic Bishops, and Greek Catholic Metropolitan Fülöp Kocsis. Additionally present were Interiror Ministry State Secretary Bence Rétvári, State Secretary for Church-State Relations Miklós Soltész, and Michael Wallace Banach, the apostolic nuncio.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican‘s secretary of state, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s top diplomat, are among the members of the papal entourage.
A group of 100 children dressed in traditional Hungarian folk attire also welcomed the pope
and gave him salt and bread, in accordance with an ancient Hungarian welcome gesture. The pontiff had a private meeting with Deputy PM Semjén immediately after his arrival.
President Katalin Novák received Pope Francis with military honours in front of the presidential offices at the Sándor Palace, in the Castle District later this morning. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and House Speaker László Kövér were also in attendance. The Holy Father arrived at the palace in a Fiat 500X accompanied by three hussars of the count Ferenc Nádasdy Hussar Regiment. The pontifical anthem and the national anthem of Hungary were played, and an equestrian parade was held.
President Novák and Pope Francis then introduced the members of their delegations to each other and proceeded into the Sándor Palace.
Later today, at St Stephen‘s Basilica, the pope will meet with bishops, priests, deacons, monks, and pastoral staff in the afternoon.
On Saturday morning, Francis is scheduled to meet with the underprivileged, refugees, and members of the Greek Catholic community in the St Elizabeth‘s Church in Rózsák Square. The pope will meet with young people in the Papp László Sport Arena on Saturday afternoon and will have a private meeting with Hungarian Jesuits in the Apostolic Nunciature on Saturday evening. The pope will lead a holy mass in Kossuth Lajos Square on Sunday morning. On the same day, at Pázmány Péter Catholic University, he will meet with student representatives to conclude his visit.
