Orbán: Pope Francis was a promoter of the peace initiative
Amid the ongoing wars in several places worldwide, the aspects of Pope Francis's legacy that had focused on peace "surround us", he said. "Today, everything was about peace and the end of war."
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Pope Francis had been 'a personal acquaintance, and an instigator, encourager and promoter of the peace initiative'. 'I have lost a friend, and so has Hungary, because the Holy Father loved us.'
Amid the ongoing wars in several places worldwide, the aspects of Pope Francis's legacy that had focused on peace 'surround us', he said. 'Today, everything was about peace and the end of war.'
PM Orbán said the day's message was 'be brave and make peace'.
Asked whether world leaders would grasp that message, PM Orbán said: 'If I have, then surely others can too. Whether they can obey such a command is a more difficult question.' At the same time, chances are better with the US president at the helm of the peace camp, he said.
PM Orbán said the next pope would have to shape stances on very difficult issues 'to reunite the Catholic Church and bring respite to diverging trends within the church'. 'It will be more of an intellectual task than an organisational one.'
He said the Christian Church was the most persecuted church in the world today. In the world, Christians are the ones to die in the largest numbers because of their faith, he said. 'This cannot go on like this, we must protect ourselves, we must protect each other,' PM Orbán said, adding that the church needed 'a pope that unites us, one who brings our debates to a halt and strengthens the community'.
Asked about the chances of Cardinal Peter Erdo, the head of the Hungarian Catholic Church, at the conclave choosing the next pope, PM Orbán refused to speculate, and said: 'I can say three things for sure. First, Hungary has a lot to thank the Catholic Church for. The second, that Hungary has a lot to thank … Cardinal Peter Erdo for … and that Erdo has an extraordinary intellect.'
Asked what his message to Hungarians was on the national day of mourning on the occasion of the pope's funeral, PM Orbán said: 'Quiet, deep thoughts, self-reflection, and we should wake up a better person tomorrow.'
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