“I have the feeling that the Holy Father came here first of all with great love, specifically love for us,” according to Cardinal Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest.
At the conclusion of Pope Francis’ 41st Apostolic Journey abroad, the Primate of Hungry said during an interview in Budapest, the “people felt the Holy Father’s warmth and responded to it, and that the Holy Father, amid these troubling times, truly came as a pilgrim of peace and man of faith.”
“The visit of Pope Francis was a special joy for the Hungarian Catholic community in particular, but I believe also for the whole nation,” said Cardinal Erdő.
“It is not some international event or other purpose that has brought him here, but specifically pastoral love; that he wanted to visit us,” he said, noting, “This is a great encouragement for us.”
“When we went to St. Stephen’s Basilica, the city was full of people. Not only in the square in front of the basilica but also along the streets, crowds were greeting him,” he said, adding that the Pope expressed great affection for those whom he met.
The Cardinal also noted that Pope Francis frequently stopped his popemobile – or papal golf cart – to shake hands with the faithful and to show his affection for babies and young children.
“It was really a great, loving relationship with the faithful community,” he said.
Cardinal Erdő pointed out that there were many non-Catholics who turned out for the Pope’s events.
“There were numerous ecumenical guests, representatives of social life, many of whom were not Catholics or non-believers,” he said, “who were overjoyed to receive the Holy Father because they saw that this journey is for us,” he said.
“Through the person of the Pope we experience that Christ is coming to us – and that is a very great thing,” said the Cardinal. “Jesus comes in every Mass. We see Him in the poor person. And yet, when the Pope comes, we are emotionally affected by this reality.”