Pope Leo discusses the situation in Ukraine with Orbán

Pope Leo and Viktor Orbán. Photo: Vatican Press Office

On October 27, 2025, Pope Leo XIV received Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in audience at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. The meeting lasted nearly an hour, according to the official information service of the Holy See.

During the talks at the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, both sides noted the strong bilateral relations between Hungary and the Holy See, as well as the Catholic Church’s contribution to the social development of Hungarian society. According to the Vatican’s communiqué, the discussion touched upon the role of the family, youth education, and the protection of vulnerable Christian communities. Particular attention was given to European issues – the conflict in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East – where the Pope and the Prime Minister exchanged views on international policy.

Orbán wrote on his social media that he had asked the Pope to support Hungary’s peace initiatives and its efforts to promote dialogue amid ongoing conflicts. After the meeting, the Hungarian leader described the United States and the Vatican as two centers of world leadership advocating for peace, stressing the importance of a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister arrived for the meeting at 9:00 a.m. through the San Damaso Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace. In addition to Pope Leo XIV, Orbán also held talks with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. The visit also had a personal dimension – the Prime Minister was accompanied by his wife Anikó Lévai and several grandchildren. On the same day, Pope Leo also received Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, underscoring the Holy See’s active diplomatic engagement with European leaders.

Former Pope Francis visited Hungary in April 2023 on his 41st apostolic journey abroad, with a full program in Budapest. He had previously been to Hungary in September 2021 to celebrate the closing Mass of the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress, highlighting the historic significance of the Vatican’s relationship with the Hungarian Catholic community.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Vatican had published the itinerary of Pope Leo’s first trip to Turkey.

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