Hungary’s President meets the Pope: Peace talks, private audience and a special gift at the Vatican

Hungary’s President held high-level talks on peace and international conflicts during his official visit to the Vatican, including a private audience with the Pope and meetings with top Holy See officials.

Tamás Sulyok, President of Hungary, met Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State, to discuss the current global situation, particularly war-torn regions, and the growing need for stronger international commitment to peace, the Vatican confirmed on Saturday.

Private audience with the Pope

During the visit, the Hungarian head of state was received in a private audience by Pope Leo XIV. According to Hungary’s presidential office at Sándor Palace, the one-to-one meeting lasted more than half an hour.

Peace was the central theme of their discussions. Sulyok reiterated Hungary’s commitment to promoting peace and stability, while the pair also spoke about the importance of protecting Christian values.

After consulting with the Hungarian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the President formally invited the Pope to make an official visit to Hungary.

A symbolic Hungarian gift

As a gesture of goodwill, Sulyok presented the Holy Father with a porcelain Madonna statue. The piece is a faithful Herend porcelain replica of the 15th-century “Toporc Madonna”, whose original is preserved at the Hungarian National Gallery.

This marked the second meeting between the two leaders. Sulyok previously attended the Pope’s inauguration in the Vatican last May.