Szijjarto: Hungary, Vatican share views on Ukraine peace, family protection and support for Christians

Szijjarto met Bishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the head of Vatican diplomacy, the ministry said.

The minister said Hungary and the Vatican agreed that the war in Ukraine must end as soon as possible.

“Unfortunately, international politics is replete with war rhetoric, criticism and stigmatisation of those promoting peace, but that shouldn’t intimidate us,” he said.

“We shall concentrate on brokering peace and offering our help as mediators or as hosts of peace talks; the world can always count on us,” Szijjarto said.

Szijjarto said he also discussed with Gallagher the protection of families, which both countries see as an “important strategic question”.

They also discussed support for persecuted Christian communities, counting some 360 million people worldwide, he said.

Hungary continues to support persecuted Christian communities, and has co-funded the reconstruction of churches in Mexico and Lebanon, he said.

Hungary has spent in the past years some 100 million dollars on supporting Christian communities worldwide, he added. “We helped some 1 million Christians in 60 countries in returning home or remaining in their homeland,” he said.

Szijjarto also had talks with Bishop Claudio Gugerotti, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, which focused on the difficulties of Eastern Catholic churches.

“We continue to support Christian communities in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in living in peace in the areas where their forefathers had lived for many centuries,” he said.

Szijjarto also visited the tomb of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who died on December 31.