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Hungary’s President meets the Pope: Peace talks, private audience and a special gift at the Vatican
Hungary’s President held high-level talks on peace and international conflicts during his official visit to the Vatican, including a private audience with the Pope and meetings with top Holy See officials.
Tamás Sulyok, President of Hungary, met Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State, to discuss the current global situation, particularly war-torn regions, and the growing need for stronger international commitment to peace, the Vatican confirmed on Saturday.
Private audience with the Pope
During the visit, the Hungarian head of state was received in a private audience by Pope Leo XIV. According to Hungary’s presidential office at Sándor Palace, the one-to-one meeting lasted more than half an hour.
Peace was the central theme of their discussions. Sulyok reiterated Hungary’s commitment to promoting peace and stability, while the pair also spoke about the importance of protecting Christian values.
After consulting with the Hungarian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the President formally invited the Pope to make an official visit to Hungary.
A symbolic Hungarian gift
As a gesture of goodwill, Sulyok presented the Holy Father with a porcelain Madonna statue. The piece is a faithful Herend porcelain replica of the 15th-century “Toporc Madonna”, whose original is preserved at the Hungarian National Gallery.
This marked the second meeting between the two leaders. Sulyok previously attended the Pope’s inauguration in the Vatican last May.
Talks on Christian communities and bilateral ties
The President later continued discussions with Cardinal Parolin at the Secretariat of State, alongside Deputy Secretary for Relations with States Mihaiţa Blaj.
According to the Holy See, both sides praised the strength of Hungary–Vatican relations and highlighted the Catholic Church’s contribution to Hungarian social life, particularly in education, charity and healthcare. Special attention was given to the central role of families and the protection of persecuted Christian communities worldwide.
Parolin also reviewed the situation of Catholic institutions in Hungary and acknowledged Hungary’s efforts to support Christians facing persecution.
Further programme in Rome
Sulyok’s visit continued at the Rome headquarters of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, where he was received by Grand Master John Dunlap.
On Sunday, he is scheduled to attend Mass with the Hungarian community at the Basilica of Saint Stephen the Protomartyr, where a service in Hungarian will be celebrated.
Following Sunday’s Mass, the President once again personally congratulated Pope Leo XIV on the beginning of his Petrine ministry and renewed his invitation for the pontiff to visit Hungary, expressing hope that he would meet the entire Hungarian nation, just as his predecessor had done.
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