Pope Francis has expressed gratitude to Hungarians for accepting Ukrainian refugees during the war and encouraged them to aid anyone in need.
On his second day of a visit to Hungary, the pontiff met refugees at a church in Budapest and praised Hungary’s Catholic Church for providing aid to people fleeing war.
He also urged Europe to find again its founding values of peaceful unity as he denounced the “adolescent belligerence” of Russia’s war in neighbouring Ukraine.
Hungary’s nationalist government has implemented firm anti immigration policies and refused to accept many asylum seekers trying to enter the country through its southern border, leading to prolonged legal disputes with the European Union.
However, some 2.5 million Ukrainians fleeing war in their country have found open doors in the country.
Around 35,000 of the refugees remain in Hungary and have registered for temporary protection there, according to the UN.