In September, Hungary and Slovakia welcomed the visit of Pope Francis. In Budapest, on September 12th, the Holy Father concluded the International Eucharistic Congress, concelebrating the Eucharist in Heroes’ Square, an emblematic place in the history of Hungary and, in the afternoon of the same day, he travelled to Slovakia that has been the scenario of important and significant events, through which the Pope came into contact with various realities of this country and, in each of them, he left a trail of light.
Among the messages that Pope Francis left in every meeting of his visit in the heart of Europe, we like to highlight two: the ecumenism and the reaffirmation of the Christian ethical values that he made in front of so many young people.
It has been unforgettable, for those who participated in it, the Divine Liturgy of St. Chrysostom, celebrated in the city of Prešov and characterized by a deep devotional feeling aroused by the beauty of the Byzantine and Eastern rites, and it was a beautiful expression of the universality of the Church. For the first time in the young history of Slovakia, bishops and archbishops, metropolitans and Latin confreres celebrated the Eucharist together chaired by the Pastor of the universal Church and that was a beautiful testimony that the church, Christ’s community, breathes with two lungs.
In his meeting with young people in Koŝice Pope Francis touched delicate topics especially for young people: preparation for marriage, premarital chastity and the difficulties of living the sacrament of Reconciliation. Addressing the young people and creating a dialogue with the crowd, he reminded everyone that it is possible to front difficulties only with courage, putting all trust in God’s Providence, not being afraid in taking decisions, not living provisionally and following a true ideal and leaving aside the dreams and illusions offered by the worldly way of living one’s life.
The trip ended with the Mass in the shrine of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows in Šastin, on the day of the liturgical feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, Patroness of Slovakia. This is a very important sanctuary for Slovaks, where every year, on September 15th, takes place a great national pilgrimage, a tradition that Slovak Christians have courageously carried out even during communism, despite the totalitarian regime was doing all that it could to prevent it. Here, during the years of the communist regime, catholic people were born at a new life joining and rooting themselves in prayer and faith, with the intention to free the country from communism and to encourage the younger generation to create the community unified through the Word of God.
As well as every visit of the Pope, also his journey to Hungary and Slovakia has left a deep mark in the hearts of those who have been involved, but his messages have their echo even in other contexts and it will be useful to profit God’s grace poured into the universal Christian and human community through Pope Francis’ gestures and words.