During Sunday’s prayer meeting with the Queen of Heaven, Pope Francis told the faithful in the Vatican that his pilgrimage to Hungary, starting on Friday, will be a visit to the center of Europe – a continent still “pressed by the icy winds of war”. As he noted, there is a massive movement of refugees in Europe.
Addressing around 30,000 of the faithful, the pope said: – Next Friday I will go to Budapest for three days Hungary to complete the 2021 journey to the International Eucharistic Congress.
“It will also be a journey to the center of Europe, where the icy winds of war continue to press, and the mass movement of so many people is a reminder of urgent humanitarian issues,” Francis said.
Pope FrancisPAP/EPA/GIUSEPPE LAMI
He also appealed: – Let us not forget about our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who are still suffering because of this war.
The Pope then addressed the Hungarians: – I know that you are preparing my visit with great commitment and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. “I ask everyone to accompany me in prayer on this journey,” he added.
Pope: I encourage everyone to pray for our Sudanese brothers and sisters
He also called for an end to the wave of violence in Sudan as soon as possible and a return to dialogue in that country. “I encourage everyone to pray for our Sudanese brothers and sisters,” Francis said.
He also said that on Saturday in Paris, the beatification of five martyrs – priests killed during the so-called of the Paris Commune in 1871.
He also referred to World Earth Day celebrated on Saturday. “I would like the commitment to care for creation to be always linked to real solidarity with the poor,” the pope said.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/GIUSEPPE LAMI