The Hungarian Catholic Church announced a national pilgrimage to Rome on the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ apostolic visit to Hungary in 2023 – between April 23 and 25, 2024. Masses will be held in Hungarian on all three days of the pilgrimage, and Pope Francis will personally receive the Hungarian pilgrims.
As part of his 41st apostolic journey, Pope Francis visited Hungary between April 28 and 30, 2023. During the three-day trip in Budapest, he met political and religious leaders, the clergy, young people, the poor, refugees and representatives of university life. During his visit, he made many direct gestures, with which he also touched the hearts of non-believers.
The highly influential visit prompted the Hungarian Catholic Bishops’ Conference to, as a sign of gratitude to the Holy Father, in connection with the first anniversary of the apostolic journey lead a national pilgrimage to Rome. According to our information, 1,500 pilgrims are coming to the Eternal City in groups and individually to visit the papal basilicas under the guidance of the chief pastors and to meet Pope Francis in private.
The exact program is as follows:
– on April 23 (Tuesday) at 4 p.m. Holy Mass in the Lateran Basilica,
– on April 24 (Wednesday) at 10 a.m. Mass in St. Paul’s Basilica Outside the Walls,
– on April 25 (on Thursday) at 8.30 a.m. in the VI. The Holy Father will receive the pilgrims in a private audience in Pál Hall, and then at 11 a.m. Mass will begin in St. Peter’s Basilica.
The organizers want the pilgrimage to be an opportunity to meet, so group and individual pilgrims will be together longer in and around the papal basilicas in connection with the ceremonies.
The organizers draw the attention of all participants that, for security reasons, in all the large Roman basilicas, as well as in the VI. There will be a security check in the Pál hall (e.g. stabbing and cutting tools, etc. cannot be brought in, and water only in plastic bottles), so it is necessary to arrive at the appropriate time for the given program (at least one hour before its start).
Priests who concelebrate at Masses are asked to bring the liturgical vestments appropriate to their order to the Mass (alba+stole).
According to the Prefecture of the Papal House, on Thursday, April 25, 2024, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, will receive the participants of the National Pilgrimage to Rome at the Vatican VI. Paul room.
Entry is possible from 7 a.m. from the direction of Piazza del Sant’Uffizio, which is located outside the colonnade on the left side of St. Peter’s Square, i.e. you do not need to enter St. Peter’s Square. Due to the potentially lengthy security check, it is recommended to arrive at the entrance by 7:30. The Holy Father is expected to start the questioning at 8.30.
It is mandatory to wear the previously distributed pilgrim’s scarf, without which the security service cannot let anyone in. For reasons of organization, the Holy Mass following the papal interrogation will only be held in the VI. Participants can enter Paul’s hall and will be escorted directly from there to the basilica.
(Hungarian Kurír/Felvidék.ma)
