Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on September 14, 2021

By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES

Pope Francis upcoming trip to Hungary and Slovakia, while seemingly standard as papal visits go, could prove to be among his most challenging visits at a time when distrust in government authorities and the looming threat of the delta variant are leading the headlines.

When he visits Slovakia Sept. 12-15, Pope Francis, who throughout his pontificate has strongly denounced corruption and organized crime, will be seen as an important advocate after several tumultuous years that saw massive protests in the country and a series of changes of governments. Since 2018, two governments have been ousted because of corruption.

Most recently, at the beginning of the first wave of the pandemic, the government in Slovakia changed, said Jesuit Father Vlastimil Dufka, who will direct the choir at the popes Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows in Sastin Sept. 15.

The previous government was marked by many corruption cases, and the arrival of a new government brought new hope to our country, he told Catholic News Service.

Recent legislation requiring vaccinations sparked protests in the country, causing divisions and tensions, including within the Catholic Church.

Father Martin Kramara, spokesman for the Slovak bishops conference, told Catholic News Service Aug. 20 that the governments mandate for all participants of papal events to be vaccinated is no small challenge to organize.

Despite the challenges, Father Kramara said the popes visit to the country, especially to a homeless shelter run by the Missionaries of Charity and to Slovakias Roma community, are a much-needed reminder of the Churchs primary mission.

The pope, he said, wants to show the local Church and religious communities sacrificial activities for the benefit of the poor and needy, those who are on the periphery of society, and he reminds us of the important truth that living faith must always be connected with active love in deeds.

Long mired by accusations of corruption, the government of former Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico came to an end after the murder of Jn Kuciak, an investigative journalist, and his fiancee, Martina Kusnrov, in 2018.

The popes trip begins in Budapest, Hungary, where he will preside over the closing Mass of the International Eucharistic Congress Sept. 12.

While the main purpose of the popes trip to Hungary is to celebrate the closing Mass, the pope will meet with Hungarian President Jnos der and Prime Minister Viktor Orbn, before flying out the same day to Bratislava, Slovakia.

That meeting with Orbn, and the brevity of the visita mere seven hourswas the subject of much speculation.

The Hungarian prime minister, who often has portrayed himself as the standard bearer for European Christianity, finds himself at odds with Pope Francis, particularly when it comes to immigration.

According to the Financial Times, during a 2017 speech to European center-right leaders, Orbn said migration turned out to be the Trojan horse of terrorism that threatened Europes Christian identity.

His views stand in stark contrast to those of Pope Francis, who has denounced growing anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe and abroad.

After meeting the two leaders in Budapests Museum of Fine Arts, the pope will meet with the countrys bishops, representatives of other Christians churches and Jewish communities in Hungary.

CNS

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Diaspora and Disease: Pope Will Face Pressing Issues on Trip - Catholic New York

Category: Diaspora
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