Pope Francis will travel to Hungary on his 41st Apostolic Journey. This is not the Holy Father's first visit to the nation's capital. In a press conference to provide information on the visit on Friday, Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, reminded that the Pope had previously presided over the Closing Mass of the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress.

According to the Director of the Press Office, Pope Francis will begin his three-day trip to the majority-Christian country with the motto "Christ is our future." Although, this time, the Pope's message of hope will resound freshly as the conflict in Ukraine causes more hardship on the country's northeast border.

As usual, Vatican officials accompanying the Holy Father will include Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State; Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and Multilateral Organizations; Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, Vatican Substitute; Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, Vatican Prefect of the Dicastery for Oriental Churches; Archbishop Robert Francis Prevost, Vatican Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops; Vatican Prefect of the Dicastery.

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, millions of migrants have fled to Europe via Hungary, where they have received aid and a portion of them have remained.

His journey to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan at the start of the year was his first Apostolic Journey; this journey is his second Apostolic Journey of 2023.

According to Mr. Bruni, after the Berlin Wall fell, Pope St. John Paul II made two trips to Hungary, in 1991 and 1996.

Fulfilling a Commitment
The Holy Father's second visit to the same nation in less than two years has drawn some criticism. But it is necessary to note that the first visit in 2021 was made to attend an international event that brought together devotees from 83 countries while this time he aims to visit the local Church and the people. In the previous visit, this wasn't possible as he only stayed for a few hours in Budapest to celebrate the Mass after which he continued his Apostolic Journey to Slovakia. On his way back to Rome from Slovakia in 2021, the Holy Father expressed a desire to spend more time in Hungary.

According to Bruni, the Holy Father is fulfilling his promise to the people of Hungary through this visit.

The Director of the Holy See Press Office walked through the entire itinerary of the Apostolic Journey, stressing that the Pope will give six official speeches, which will be in Italian, with translations available.

Itinerary
A meeting with migrants and the destitute, another with blind and disabled children, and meetings with civil authorities and the diplomatic corps, religious leaders, and youths will be among the highlights of the Apostolic Journey's itinerary. Along with saying the Regina Caeli and having his customary private audience with other Jesuits, he will offer Mass for the Hungarian faithful. On April 29, there will also be a meeting with the Greek-Catholic community, according to the Holy See Press Office's director.

Holiness in Hungary
The entire tour will take place in Budapest, and it should be noted that Hungary has given rise to numerous saints, many of them came from noble backgrounds and then committed their lives to care for the sick or impoverished. Understanding examples of holiness throughout Hungary's past, according to Mr. Bruni, will help individuals observing Pope Francis's Journey get to know and grasp the goal better.

The Aftermath of the War
This Journey takes place at a time when Europe is at war and there is a humanitarian and migration catastrophe over the border and worldwide. Bruni recognized that among the topics the Pope will undoubtedly address will be local hardship and calls for peace.

The Hungarian government has taken steps to ease attendance in the Pope's trip, including free public transport for people attending activities. The government has adopted regulations and guidelines that favor family support in the country.

Christianity in Hungary
Christianity has a more than 1,000-year history in Hungary, dating back to St. Stephen who was King at that time, yet it has survived communism and the Cold War, thanks to the testimony of martyrs and a hidden church.

The Holy Father is expected to hold a brief audience on the return journey to Rome, as is typical.