BUDAPEST: Pope Francis warned against indifference while thanking Hungary for taking in Ukrainians on Saturday despite the anti-refugee policies of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
On his arrival of the three-day visit on Friday, the 86-year-old Argentine in his first speech to Orban and other government officials stressed “the need for openness towards others”, warning against “withdrawing into oneself”.
Hungary’s government has welcomed those fleeing the war in neighbouring Ukraine.
But activists say there is barely a support system in place, while Orban’s insistence on maintaining ties with Moscow puts off Ukrainians.
Some 600 refugees and poor people listened to the pope at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Budapest on Saturday, while about a thousand more gathered outside.
After listening to some of their stories, including that of Oleg Yakovlev, a father-of-five who fled Ukraine, the pope thanked Hungary “for having welcomed so many refugees from Ukraine.”
He further urged the need of “showing compassion toward all”.
Olesia Misiats, a mother-of-three from Kiev who fled to Hungary a year ago, said she felt “very happy” to see the pope.
“We feel safe, and many people help us,” the 33-year-old said.
“I respect the pope very much because he prays for Ukraine. He wants this war to finish, and my heart is full with thanks for him,” she added.
A Ukrainian woman outside the cordoned-off church grounds, who only gave her name as Elena, said that she also hoped to see the pope “who is a strong advocate of peace”. “We have no problems here, but obviously when you are waiting to go back, you don’t immerse yourself too deep,” the 43-year-old dancer from north of Kyiv said.
During an audience last year at the Vatican, Francis equally thanked Orban for welcoming Ukrainian refugees.
Since Russia attacked its neighbour more than a year ago, more than two million Ukrainians have crossed into Hungary, but just 35,000 have applied for the EU’s temporary protection status in the country.
That’s far fewer than in other countries just west of Ukraine.
— AFP
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