Pope Francis warns against ‘evils of indifference’ in Viktor Orban’s Hungary while greeting refugees

Around 600 refugees – mostly from Ukraine – gathered at St Elizabeth’s Church in Budapest to listen to the pope. About a thousand more gathered outside

The pope thanked Hungary ‘for having welcomed – not only with generosity but also with enthusiasm – so many refugees from Ukraine’

3-MIN READ3-MIN

Pope Francis in the Papp Laszlo Budapest Sports Arena in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 1:14am, 30 Apr 2023

Pope Francis on Saturday warned against “the evils of indifference” while greeting refugees on the second day of a visit to Hungary where Prime Minister Viktor Orban has adopted a tough stance against immigration.

Around 600 refugees – mostly from Ukraine – and poor people gathered at St Elizabeth’s Church in Budapest to listen to the pope. About a thousand more gathered outside.

After hearing accounts of their lives, including that of Oleg Yakovlev, a father-of-five who fled Ukraine, the pope thanked Hungary “for having welcomed – not only with generosity but also with enthusiasm – so many refugees from Ukraine”.

Pope Francis meets young people in the Papp Laszlo Budapest Sports Arena in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Orban’s government – in a departure from its usual anti-refugee position – has welcomed those fleeing the war in neighbouring Ukraine.

But activists say there is barely a support system in place. Orban’s insistence on maintaining ties with Moscow has also alienated Ukrainians.

The pope stressed the need to show “compassion toward all”.

He urged people to “help to uproot the evils of indifference and selfishness from society, from our cities and the places where we live, and to rekindle hope for a new, more just and fraternal world.”