On the celebration of the founding of the state, the traditional mass in the capital's basilica was also held this year, where the Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest also blessed the new bread.
Cardinal Péter Erdő spoke in front of the St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest on Sunday, at the celebratory mass held on St. Stephen's Day: on the feast of our holy king, "we give thanks for our past, for the fact that after so many historical tragedies and crimes, but from the heroic moments of standing up and sanctity of life, we have strength we remained immersed".
The cardinal specially greeted II. Coptic Pope Tavadrosz, emphasizing that his participation is a testimony of the togetherness and brotherhood of Eastern and Western Christians, as well as an opportunity to pray for the unity of Christians.
Welcoming the orator of the Mass, Bernard Bober, the cardinal noted that he has a dream that the peoples of Europe will get to know each other better and "love each other with a reconciled spirit". They learn more and more to appreciate the culture of their people and "our common heritage, centered on the Christian faith and worldview."
At the Holy Mass, Péter Erdő blessed the new bread.
Archbishop Bernard Bober of Kassa called for the renewal of the spiritual identity of the peoples of Central Europe. In his homily, the president of the Slovak Bishops' Conference emphasized that unity in Christ "takes us further than our own borders".
"Christ's love breaks down prejudices, breaks hatred, calls for reconciliation and calls for mutual goodwill," said the Slovak chief pastor, emphasizing that "this is the path of our nations."
"Let's confess that we belong to Jesus, live the Gospel every day, and not allow ourselves to be deceived by the value of the family, the relativism that casts doubt on the marriage of a man and a woman," he asked.
He went on to say that the sincerely lived Christian faith "despite all linguistic and cultural differences" can unite and bring people together. It is especially important to warn about this, he added, when "we forget to live the gospel, when we are more nationalists than patriots, when we insult and look down on each other."
Yet God calls us to unity in Christ. This was understood and felt by King St. István, who founded a country that was led and protected by the Virgin Mary from the beginning, added Bernard Bober.
The ceremony ended with the Holy Right Procession. The hand relic of Saint Stephen's right arm was carried by the national guard, preceded by knights recognized by the Holy See, monks and clergy, members of the episcopal conference, behind Saint Jobb, Péter Erdő, as well as public dignitaries and state officials, members of the diplomatic corps, then worshipers dressed in national costume and groups of parish pilgrims went.
The President of the Republic Katalin Novák and her husband, István Veres, Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén, András Zs. Varga, President of the Kúria, Anikó Lévai, wife of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, former Head of State Pál Schmitt, Zoltán Lomnici, President of the Human Dignity Council, attended the mass. , Bence Rétvári, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior and István Tarlós, former mayor.
MTI
