Pope meets with Hungarian President and Prime Minister
By Joseph Tulloch
Pope Francis has arrived in Budapest, Hungary, for his 41st Apostolic Journey abroad.
His first stop upon arrival in the central European nation was Sándor Palace, the official residence of the President of Hungary.
Following a private meeting with President Katalin Novák, Pope Francis met with Viktor Orbán, the country’s Prime Minister.
Official welcome
The Pope arrived at Sándor Palace at 11:18 local time, and was greeted with a guard of honour. The national anthems of both Hungary and the Vatican City were played, and the Pope greeted the President and Prime Minister, as well as other Hungarian officials.
Following this official welcome, the Pope and President Novák entered the palace and made for its Empire Hall, where official photographs were taken, and the Pope signed the country’s Book of Honour, writing in Italian:
“I come as a pilgrim and friend to Hungary, a country rich in history and culture; in Budapest, city of bridges and of saints, I think of all Europe, and pray that, in unity and solidarity, it might be in our times too a house of peace and a prophecy of welcome.”
Meeting with President and Prime Minister
The next stop for both the Pope and President Novák was the Palace’s Blue Hall, where they held a private discussion.
As part of the meeting, the pair exchanged gifts, the Pope presenting the President with a commemorative medal featuring St Stephen – the first King of Hungary – and the Virgin Mary, as well as images of the Parliament of Hungary, Budapest’s Basilica of St Stephen, and the River Danube.
Following the meeting, President Novák introduced her family to the Pope, before accompanying him to the adjacent Maria Teresa Hall, where he met with Prime Minister Orbán.
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