On June 27, from 11 a.m., a festive mass in Polish will be held at the Lengyel parish (1103 Budapest, Óhegy u. 11.), followed by an award ceremony. This year, Gergő Bese, chaplain from Jánoshalmi, will receive the award of the National Polish Local Government. Vasárnap.hu interviewed father Gergő about Polish-Hungarian friendship.

- In a few days, he will receive the award for Poles in Hungary, founded by the National Polish Local Government. When did you become so close to the Poles?

- My love for the Polish people Saint II. John Paul . I have looked up to him as a role model since my childhood. In 2000, it was granted that I could see him personally during the national pilgrimage of the Hungarians. The old pope was passing right in front of me on St. Peter's Square. It had a big impact on me. His whole life was accompanied by his commitment to young people and to Our Lady... For me, his person showed not only the historical-Polish-Hungarian relations, but also the living relations, which are often embodied in church ties and pilgrimages. I believe that there are still many people in the world who see the connection with the Poles as part of World War II. They felt it through Pope János Pál... We Hungarians receive a lot of attention and love from the Poles, which we must appreciate more and selflessly reciprocate their friendship.

– How did you become an enthusiastic supporter of Polish-Hungarian relations?

...I felt that the power of faith connects these two countries. In 2011, when the Polish-Hungarian Presidency of the European Union took place, we launched a series of large-scale programs with the Polish National Self-Government, the Polish school and the Polish Embassy. In addition to the spectacular drawing and literary competition, I am most proud of the fact that with the help of parish priest György Snell - who later became a bishop - we managed to get an authentic copy of the Black Madonna from Czestochowa to arrive in Budapest. From here on, you can say that I have been up to my neck in various Polish programs and pilgrimages for the past ten years. In 2016, for example, we participated in the World Youth Meeting in Krakow with ten busloads of young Hungarians, and that year I also received the Order of Merit for Poland. The meetings and new friendships showed many people that we Hungarians are not alone in the world. We can always count on the Poles...

The full interview can be read here.

(Credit Image: Pixabay.com)