President invites the pope to visit Hungary

President János Áder has invited Pope Francis to Hungary for the International Eucharistic Congress set to be held in Budapest later this year.

Speaking to public media after an audience with Pope Francis, Áder said he had visited the Vatican with the intention of inviting the pope to the International Eucharistic Congress scheduled for September 13-20.

Áder noted that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Hungary and the Holy See as well as the 30th anniversary of their re-establishment. He noted that Hungary has not had a papal visit since Pope John Paul II visited the country in 1996.

Áder said Pope Francis’s visit to Sumuleu Ciuc (Csíksomlyó), Romania, last year had been a “tremendous success” among Catholics, adding that the pontiff “would surely receive a similarly loving welcome from Hungarian believers”.

Áder said the pope showed keen interest in the programme of the congress.

Pope Francis indicated that he would be glad to visit Hungary. “His reaction cannot be considered a full commitment but it was more than a polite comment on the invitation,” Áder said.

The president confirmed Hungary’s invitation during his meeting with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The cardinal said after the meeting that it would be an honour for him to accompany the pope on his visit to Budapest.