VATICAN CITY — On Wednesday, Pope Francis welcomed Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban to the Vatican, where the two leaders engaged in discussions centering around the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Their conversation emphasized the humanitarian crisis resulting from the war and explored pathways to foster peace in the affected region.
Additionally, the conversation touched on a variety of topics including Hungary’s current presidency of the Council of the European Union, as well as the significant importance of family and the safeguarding of youth, as indicated by a statement from the Vatican.
During his previous visit to Hungary last year, Pope Francis had the opportunity to meet approximately 35,000 Ukrainian refugees who had taken refuge in the country. This came in the wake of nearly 2.5 million individuals who sought safety in Hungary following the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Prime Minister Orban has consistently advocated for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict. Nevertheless, he has opted not to supply arms to Ukraine and has also signaled his intention to block EU sanctions on Russia, all while keeping Hungary reliant on Russian energy imports.
During his visit, Orban also held discussions with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, along with Miroslaw Wachowski, who serves as the Vatican’s undersecretary for relations with different states.
