The Government would be happy to help transport the cross that is due to be demolished in France to Hungary

“The Government is willing to pay any expenses that arise and undertake the administrative burdens in the interests of enabling the cross that is condemned to be removed from the statue of Pope John Paul II in the town of Ploërmel to be transported to Hungary, if the leaders of the French settlement consent to it”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced at a press conference in Budapest on Thursday.

Mr. Szijjártó told reporters that the Ministry had contacted the local government of the small town in Brittany via the Hungarian Embassy in Paris, but had received no reply so far, adding that the cross would be received by the Saint Benedict Secondary and High School.

The Minister did not wish to comment on the Council of State’s decision to remove the cross, but said that all decisions that cite tolerance in a hypocritical manner to suppress Christianity, and which order the removal of Christian symbols, are “hugely damaging” with regard to the future of Europe.

According to the Minister, “astounding self-deprecation” aimed at suppressing Christianity goes against Europe’s interests. “Such measures must be regarded as attempts to do away with the continent’s civilisation and culture”, he said, adding that:

“These days we are seeing the emergence of issues that nobody previously thought could ever emerge, because irrespective of religious denomination nobody can dispute the fact that Christianity is a determining part of European culture”.