Hungary was part of a historic event. We were able to organize the International Eucharistic Congress, the closing mass of which was celebrated by the Pope. The whole world paid attention to us on September 12, 2021, now they know where Hungary is. We are building Christianity, and this has also put us in the crosshairs of the international media.
Since our right-wing government announced the protection of Christian culture, neither viewpoint appears in the Basic Law nor in the Child Protection Act, and the attack has not stopped. But Jesus already said this: as the world hates me, so it will hate you. We really deserved the Pope to finally come to us. It has not been twenty-one years since a pope visited a Eucharistic Congress, but now we have just received this honor. It has great significance and symbolic meaning. And nowadays it is not very common for a head of government to ask the pope not to let his Christian country be lost - as our prime minister did. It is unfathomable what kind of blessing the papal blessing, which the whole of Hungary received, entails. We can be sure that God's hand was over the Pope, so we received a blessing, as a mystic had predicted. We can only appreciate the blessing! II. Pope János Pál visited us twice, and if Transylvania is included, Pope Francis also visited the Hungarians for the second time. However, he visited our country for the first time and right now, in 2021, when we are among the few in the Western world who are fighting for the preservation of their Christian values. Let's understand the significance of this and be grateful for it!
Thanks to the wonders of technology, we were able to accompany the pope's journey from the moment he got off the plane, to the celebration of the Holy Mass, and then to his farewell. After he welcomed the heads of state, contrary to earlier reports to the contrary, and after the prime minister's ominous request was made at the Museum of Fine Arts, he met with representatives of various religions. It is also a fact that the East could meet the West at this Eucharistic Congress. 11 denominations participated in the meeting of the Ecumenical Council of the Hungarian Churches, the Reformed bishop greeted the pope, and then the chief rabbi of Budapest, who emphasized the Jewish-Christian faith heritage, which, despite all odds, was still able to celebrate together.
In his speech, the Holy Father thanked for the deep words. The essence of what he had to say was that we should build the bridge so that Jews and Christians can live in brotherly love. He talked about Miklós Radnóti, who we know was dragged away because of his Jewish origin, but he was the one who converted to Catholicism. It is worth emphasizing that the relationship between Jews and Christians has never been as strong and prosperous as it is today. In the last 12 years, countless synagogues have been renovated, and Jews have received as much support as Christians. Our relationship with Israel has never been stronger.
The Holy Father then got into the papal mobile, waving to the people during the procession, but he also took the time to take two babies in his arms and kiss them on the forehead. His route was not announced in advance, despite this, Andrássy út was filled with celebrating and cheering people, the crowd greeted him with ovations all along the way, although the anti-pressurists (for example, ATV) predicted that no one would be interested, people would be idle. The procession was well received by the huge crowd, just as hundreds of thousands took part in the previous day's procession, but also in the accompanying programs. People could not enter the holy worship of the Saint Stephen's Basilica, thousands stood around the building. One of the consequences of the congress is that the adoration of the sacrament "came into fashion".
According to foreigners, the location, Hősök tere and its surroundings, rivals Szent Péter tér in its beauty. Hundreds of people volunteered to help guide people, although it was a lot of queuing, but it was worth it. There were those who said it was worth a pilgrimage. Finally, everyone who was interested got in before the mass began.
The weather was also kind, everyone found their designated sector, and the mass began. It was an uplifting feeling to listen to the beautiful choral music and sing with them, you could feel the heart and pulsation of the city, as if the whole of Hungary was there together, in peace. Those who were not present in person watched it on TV, which broadcast to countless countries around the world that the Pope visited us, there is peace and love.
Even before the Holy Mass, it was announced that everyone would receive a papal blessing and complete absolution, the remission of sins. In his Mass, the Pope also mentioned the names of St. Stephen and St. Elizabeth, as those who are fully aware of our history and saints. He received great applause, which broke out several times during the mass. The congress should be the starting point for following Jesus, Pope Francis said. We hope it will be so.
The crowd, more than 75,000 people, were able to make a peaceful sacrifice at the end, everyone partook of the body of Jesus, which is part of every Mass for Catholics, Greeks, and Orthodox. You only had to watch the white flag and the helpers and priests dressed in white clothes, and everyone received the body of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
The great significance of this congress is that it prepared the unity of East and West. After Roman, Greek, Orthodox, Eastern and Western Christians were also part of the event in the Eucharist, they became closer to each other. According to insiders, the unity of Eastern and Western Christians is not far away, because this congress provided a good opportunity for mutual consultation, so Hungary can be the bridge between them. A large number of Eastern and Western bishops participated, the non-Catholic Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomaios was here, as well as the representative of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion, because there is a community of faith, although the harmony between the churches is not yet complete, but change can be foreseen.
We are the country of Kodály. We can be proud of our choirs, who sang wonderfully throughout the opening event, the procession, and during the papal closing mass. The Hymn and the prayer of our Blessed Mother after the Mass were sung by many in tears, because it was touching and uplifting to sing among so many people.
Those waiting for admission could not hear the introductory programs, but it was nice to see them on TV afterwards. Csaba Pindroch's beautiful speech and the songs of the singers of the papal anthem, Gabi Tóth and Gergő Dánielfy, brightened the event, thanks to them for taking on the far from easy role of patrons of the congress.
The Pope was kind the whole time, he was happy to be here, because he too couldn't move out for two years due to the epidemic. Finally, he said in Hungarian: God, bless the Hungarians!
So be it! Amen.
