PM Orbán in Rome: Trump at the helm of the peace camp

The funeral Mass of Pope Francis was a farewell and an “uplifting, hopeful event” at the same time, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told commercial channel TV2 after the ceremony in Rome on Saturday.

Be brave and make peace, says Orbán

Orbán said 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 Francis’s legacy that had focused on peace “surround us”, he said. “Today, everything was about peace, and the end of war.” Orbán said the day’s message was “be brave and make peace”.

Asked whether world leaders would grasp that message, 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.

Christian Church the most persecuted church in the world

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 largest numbers because of their faith, he said. “This cannot go on like this, we must protect ourselves, we must protect each other,” 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 what his message to Hungarians was on the national day of mourning on the occasion of the pope’s funeral, Orbán said: “Quiet, deep thoughts, self-reflection, and we should wake up a better person tomorrow.”

Government official signs Book of Condolences

Tristan Azbej, the state secretary of the foreign ministry and head of the Hungary Helps programme, on Saturday signed the Apostolic Nunciature’s Book of Condolences for Pope Francis, “expressing our respect and gratitude for the life and work” of the pontiff, he said on Facebook.

Azbej said the message highlighted “that Pope Francis always promoted a message of peace, and turned towards Hungarian communities with special affection, on both sides of Hungary’s borders. The legacy he left for Hungary’s people lives on in our memories.”

Francis’s faith and service had shown the way for many, Azbej said. “We especially appreciate the attention he gave to our work for persecuted Christians, and we have experienced his support and encouragement.”He said Francis’s memory and legacy was encouragement to continue working. “Rest in peace,” he concluded.

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• National day of mourning in Hungary: National flag raised and lowered to half-mast in Budapest during funeral of Pope Francis