WASHINGTON —
Pope Francis arrived in Hungary on Friday. During his three-day visit, he is scheduled to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and lead an open-air mass in front of parliament on Sunday.
Francis’ visit comes at a time when Europe is reeling from a migrant crisis and war in Ukraine. During his visit, he is expected to address both issues and meet some Ukrainians who have fled their homes after the Russian invasion.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán famously erected a barbed wire fence in 2015 to keep Serbs out of Hungary, but he has welcomed Ukrainians to Hungary. However, unlike other European leaders, he did not arm Ukraine’s resistance to Russian aggression.
Both the pope and Orbán called for a ceasefire and a negotiated end to the war.