Magyar News, 1991. szeptember-1992. augusztus (2. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1992-12-01 / 4. szám

Fr. Dr. Andor Rakaczki HIS HOLINESS, POPE JOHN-PAUL II IN HUNGARY Aug. 16 - Aug. 20,1991 On August 20th, 1988 on the feast day of St. Stephen, first King of Hungary, Cardi­nal Dr. László Paskai, Primate of Hungary, publicly announced at the St. Stephen Ba­silica in Budapest, that Bruno F. Straub, president of the Presidential Committee of the Hungarian People’s Republic and the Hungarian Catholic Bishops Conference, invited Pope John-Paul n for a pastoral visit to Hungary. The Holy Father in his letter (Nov. 10, 1988) to the Hungarian Government, and to the Hungarian Catholic Bishops Confer­ence (Nov. 14, 1988) gladly accepted the invitations for his future pastoral visit to Hungary. On July 26, 1989, Pope John-Paul II made a public announcement that in 1991 he will make his pastoral visit to Hungary. In 1989 and in 1990 a complete change in the political system developed in Hun­gary. The Communist regime ended and in it’s place an elected democratic republic takeover. In the August of 1991, a democ­ratized Hungary awaited the arrival of the Pope. Pope John-Paul II is the second pope in history to ever visit Hungary. The first was Pope Leo IX who visited Hungary in the year 1052. He came with the intention of making peace between King András I of Hungary and Emperor Henrik III of the Roman-German empire. The following is a day-by-day account of the Pope’s visit: Friday, Aug. 16: The Pope arrives in Budapest. Celebrates Mass in Esztergom, then returns to Budapest. Next stop the Parliament. There he met with Árpád Göncz, President of the Republic, József Antall the Prime Minister and also with the Cabinet members. Saturday, Aug. 17: Celebrates Mass in Pecs. Meets with the representatives of the Science & Culture Associations, and with diplomats in Budapest. Sunday, Aug. 18: Celebrates a Byzantine Rite Liturgy in Mariapocs. Later that day he participated in an Ecumenical Service in Debrecen, the city of “Protestant Rome”. Later still that night back in Budapest he met with the representatives of the Hungarian Jewish communities. Monday, Aug. 19: Celebrates Mass in Szombathely. In Budapest he meets with seminarians in the Matyas Church. Later that night he greets the youth of Hungary in the People’s Sta­dium, where they put on a marvelous show for him. Tuesday, Aug. 20: The Pope visits the sick and elderly in St. Stephen Basilica. Celebrates Mass at the Heroes Square in Budapest. Meets with the members of the Hungarian Catholic Bish­ops Conference. Farewell greeting from the Airport of Ferihegy. Preceding the Holy Father’s visit, the entire country underwent a great spiritual renewal. Three years passed between the time the invitation was sent and the actual time of the visit. This gave the country and the people an apt amount of time to greet the Holy Father with a renewed spirit and a refreshed soul. The entire country happily awaited the arrival of the Vicar of Christ: not only the Catholic Church but other denominations as well. Naturally, many members of the Com­munist Party, particularly because of the recent collapse of their regime, were quite opposed to the Pope’s visit. At the same time, the younger generation who was bom into and raised under communist and athe­istic rule for over 30 years, awaited the visit with great curiosity and anticipation. As on all of his other pastoral visits, the Pope’s schedule was hectic and full. Yet he always managed to look fresh, energized and forever smiling. He radiated God’s love and peace wherever he went. At the time of his arrival at the airport he said the following: “I had two reasons in coming here to visit all of you in your homeland. First, I came to strengthen the faith in the Christian community. The sec­ond reason I came was to uphold every Hungarian’s Christian viewpoint, to sal­vage the individuality of man, and in the interest of rebuilding the society of man. I came so I could really get a feel for: how willingly you all work at rebuilding your homeland, so I could distribute you yours and your worries and so I could offer up to you the immeasurable strength of faith. I strongly suggest to all a faith-filled (Continued on next page) (Continued from Page 1) Hungary Has Rich Christian History prayer offered at all stages of my pastoral visit to the Hungarian na­tion. It was expressed in the Eu­charistic Liturgy, beginning with Esztergom, the first capital, and still today the primatial See of Hun­gary; it was taken up again in my meeting with the world of culture and science; it was evident in my meeting with the eniscopal confer­ence, with the diocesan and Reli­gious priests, and also with the young people (seminarians and novices) in St. Matthias Church. The meeting with the sick also referred to this theme, because the sacrifice of suffering, joined to prayer, contributes to spiritual renewal through a remarkable communion with the mystery of Christ’s redemption. There were numerous par-? ticipants in the Byzantine liturgical celebration of the Eucharist (in Hungarian) at the Shrine of Maria­pocs. Also present were Catholics of the Eastern Rite who had come from neighboring countries, i.e., Slovakia, Subcarpathia, Ukraine, and Romania. A Living Heritage In Hungarian Church and social life the question of ecumenism has undoubted relevance, since about 30% of society accepted Reformed Christianity, particularly Cal­vinism, in the 16th century. For this reason there was notable in­terest, also during the Papal visit, in the meeting in Debrecen. This city is actually the historical cen­ter of Hungarian Calvinism and has made its own contribution to the nation’s history and to Magyar cul­ture, especially in the eastern part of the country. Many people took part in the ecumenical celebration and the prayer for the unity of Christians. I thank the Lord for this event: in the not too distant past such a meet­ing would have been impossible. I also recall that on the program for the same day, Sunday, August 18th, there was in Budapest a meet­ing with representatives of the Jew­ish community. At every stage of my apostolic pilgrimage, pilgrims from the neighboring countries took part in the liturgy: Cardinals and Bishops, priests and lay people from Aus­tria, Slovakia, and Yugoslavia (es­pecially from Croatia and Slovenia, but also from Poland). These pilgrims were particularly numerdus on the feast of St. Stephen and at the Mass celebrated in Heroes Square: It was the largest assembly of the whole visit. This confirms the fact that the crown of St. Stephen has remained the liv­ing heritage of the Hungarian na­tion and Church. In my recollection and prayer I embrace all the people who dwell in that land, as well as those mil­lions of Hungarians who live abroad. May they all hold in their hearts the spiritual heritage of St. Stephen and, together with it, may they grow spiritually in love and veneration for the Blessed Virgin: Magna Domina Hungarorum!

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