The moments of the papal visit to Hungary are brought to life in an exhibition in Bratislava that opened the other day, where the participants could learn about the "behind the scenes" about the leader of the Catholic Church.
More than half a year has passed since Pope Francis' apostolic visit to Hungary, but the experiences lived through are still alive in many people. On November 14, Katalin Süle's Áhítat és Iámádság - Moments of the Papal Visit to Budapest exhibition was opened at the Hungarian Embassy in Bratislava, in the hall of the Liszt Institute Bratislava. In the evening, the Pope's visit to Csiksomlyo and Bratislava was also discussed.
The exhibition in the hall of the Liszt Institute Bratislava (also known as the Hungarian Cultural Center Bratislava) located in the building of the Hungarian embassy in Bratislava features the photographs of the photographer Katalin Ágnes Süle, which were taken during the visit of the Holy Father to Hungary between April 28 and 30.
Pál Venyercsan, director of the Liszt Institute in Bratislava, greeted those present at the exhibition opening on Tuesday evening, November 14. He highlighted: Katalin Süle Ágnes is not only a great photographer, but also a member of the community of their foreign mission and the Hungarian Catholic Community of Bratislava; was present as an accredited photographer at the locations of Pope Francis' visit to Hungary.
His pictures in the exhibition captured the moments of this special event. So maybe even those who could not be present at the event can experience the fantastic, captivating atmosphere.
The director noted: the special feature of the evening was not only that the attendees could listen to the stories brought to life by the photographs, and that the creator of the photos was also present, but also that several of the characters in the pictures took part in the opening.
The exhibition was opened by Zuzana Kostková, representing Czech and Slovak Christian photographers, Đvodek a Viera.
After the opening, Tamás Molnár, the pastor of the Hungarian Catholic faithful in Bratislava, talked with Katalin Ágnes Süle and István Kuzmányi, the director and editor-in-chief of Magyar Kurír and Új Ember, about their experiences related to the papal visits.
Father Tamás Molnár pointed out: the pictures exhibited at the exhibition were taken during the visit to Hungary half a year ago, but several of the participants were also present during the visit of Pope Francis to Budapest in the fall of 2021, when the Heroes presented a mass on the closing day of the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress (NEK) on the square. As editor-in-chief, István Kuzmányi was able to travel on the papal plane as a journalist and ask the Holy Father questions.
Katalin Ágnes Süle said: when she found out that she could participate in the papal visit in April as an accredited photographer, she was filled with great joy, considered it a huge honor, but at the same time it was a great challenge for her. They have been accredited for various events; the organizers dictated who could take photos from which distance. He captured the moments of the Holy Father's visit from a relatively far distance. It was quite an exceptional experience.
István Kuzmányi recalled: in 2021, he traveled with the Holy Father and his delegation on the plane on which he arrived in Budapest for the Eucharistic Congress; then accompanied Pope Francis on his subsequent three-day visit to Slovakia.
They were traveling on an Alitalia plane. More than seventy members of the press were present; a curtain separated them from the Vatican delegation of the Holy Father. The Pope does not have to, but if he chooses, he can go behind the journalists and they can introduce themselves to him one by one.
When he approached him, István Kuzmányi informed the Holy Father that he was born in Nagyvárad and added: in Transylvania. Pope Francis replied: "Transylvania is a very beautiful place, you are lucky to have been born there. How nice it was to celebrate with you Hungarians in Csíksomlyo!"
The editor-in-chief of Magyar Kurír recalled how he felt at the time: "Space and time stopped for me, I felt half in heaven. It was unbelievable that someone who carries the burdens of the whole Church on his shoulders remembered the word Transylvania, that he had been there years before, and what a beautiful place," added István Kuzmányi, who also revived that the 2019 Czíksomlyó at the time of the Pentecost farewell, the weather was terrible, and the pilgrims got horribly wet along with it. The Holy Father's plane could not land in Csíkszereda as planned, but in Marosvásárhely, which is much further away, from where it was taken by car to Somlyo, and on the way Pope Francis admired the beautiful snows of Harghita, which are also sung about in literary works. All of this burned into his heart, and that's probably why he remembered it.
On all three of his visits, he enjoyed the fact that he was among us Hungarians, that we were curious about him. His arrival was a touching moment of his visit in April: he got out of his wheelchair and, leaning on his cane, approached those who were waiting for him, thus indicating that he came because he considers us important and is interested in who he meets, recalled the editor-in-chief.
One of the pictures in the exhibition shows the Herbácskó couple, Norbert and Anita, in Bény national costume. When Father Tamás Molnár, who was also born in Bény, was asked how it felt to represent Hungarians from the highlands during the papal visit in April, Anita answered: a huge experience and responsibility.
They had met the Holy Father before, in Rome, on the Feast of Families. Pope Francis went out among the people and caressed their little boy. "I was sure that at some point such a meeting would take place," said the mayor of Bény.
The little boy has since grown up, he was there in the Papp László Arena when the Holy Father met the young people. It was still cool in the morning at the Mass in Kossuth Square, but the warmth permeated them more and more while they waited for Pope Francis.
The settlement was filled with pride that the village of Bény and six villages could represent the Hungarians of the highlands during this visit.
The husband of the mayor of Bény, Norbert Herbácskó, called the organization impressive, the experience wonderful, and the whole event a beautiful spiritual meditation. The deep papal messages made it so, he said.
Katalin Ágnes Süle said about her favorite picture or moment from the papal visit: the photo of the adoration taken after the meeting of the Holy Father with the young people in the Arena.
The activity and dynamism were replaced by immobility and reverent silence - he enlivened it.
The photographer called it touching how the young people welcomed Pope Francis with sparkling eyes and joy. You can also see pictures of this, as well as the concerts and dances that preceded the meeting. The atmosphere was fantastic - said Katalin Ágnes Süle. He especially liked the way the Holy Father was completely attuned to the young people. He was cheerful and direct with them. The distance made it difficult to photograph him, especially when he went close to people; almost blended into the crowd. And when he responded to the young people's speeches, he addressed them personally, said something to everyone that was related to his thoughts, and even joked, quoting a proverb: "He who dares wins."
For Katalin Ágnes Süle, the moments when she photographed the Pope in front of the Saint Stephen's Basilica were also particularly memorable.
Pope István Ferenc Kuzmányi highlighted from his visit to St. Stephen's Basilica that at the end, the Holy Father's heart was touched by the crowd waiting for him. Here, too, he got up from his wheelchair and hobbled down the steps in front of the basilica. As a result of the gesture, the hearts of the people guaranteeing their personal safety began to beat faster, because they were not prepared for the Holy Father to go among the people. Earlier, upon his arrival at the basilica, he stopped in front of Father Mihály Kardos, who had an amputated leg and was also in a wheelchair, hugged him, kissed his hand, and then blessed him. The editor-in-chief said that he addressed Father Mihály after the event. When asked how he experienced the meeting, he only said: "I was in tears."
Editor-in-Chief István Kuzmányi recalled the personal, unexpected gift that, before the Holy Mass in Kossuth Square, when the Holy Father went around the square with the Pope's mobile, his bodyguards picked out several small children from the crowd, whom the Pope blessed, including his little daughter, Veronika, who was taken out to the square by his mother, together with his older brothers, joining the community of their parish.
István Kuzmányi also recalled that when Pope Francis arrived in Bratislava from Budapest in 2021, he visited the House of Bethlehem, excluding the public, where the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity nurse and care for incurably ill homeless people.
The editor-in-chief emphasized: he represents the Holy Father Péter, and he also tries to bring the Good Lord among us. On the spot, he was struck by the thought: God decided to become incarnate, and he did so in such a human way, so that we finally realize how much he loves us and wants to be our friend. He is incarnated as a child, crying in Bethlehem.
This face of God on a human scale is the one whose emissary Pope Francis entered the House of Bethlehem, to those people who don't even have a face, we know nothing about them.
The Betlehem House belongs to the Holy Family Parish in Bratislava-Ligetfalus. Parish priest Juraj Vittek was also present at the opening of the exhibition in Bratislava, and in his comments, as an eyewitness, he also called Pope Francis' visit to the home a moving experience.
A choir of parents with large families and their children also sang at the event. One of the singers, Ivett Šillo Kiss, called the rehearsals for the visit of the Holy Father joyful; this period was full of joy, grace, God's presence was felt; brought people together, created a community. They were able to meet the Holy Father up close, it was a joy to sing to him.
At the end of the evening, Father Tamás Molnár bid farewell to those present, wishing everyone to do their work and tasks for the glory of God. This evening also proved that people are open to the good and the beautiful, added the pastor of the Hungarian Catholic faithful in Bratislava.
Cover image: The opening of the exhibition presenting the papal visit
Source: Magyar Kurír/Zita Merényi
