Pope’s Visit to Budapest: Political or Pastoral?

Both leaders sent pointed signals. Orban gave Francis a copy of a 1243 letter from Hungary's King Bela IV, asking Pope Innocent IV for help repelling Mongol invaders - a possible dig at the pope's welcoming attitude to migrants. Francis's homily at the Mass warned against the "false messianism" of worldly power that seeks "to silence opponents" - a seeming reference to the country's creeping autocratisation and silencing of the media under the Fidesz government over the last 13 years.

Since then, Budapest has made a concerted effort to woo the Vatican in a 'hearts and minds' campaign' spearheaded by Eduard von Habsburg, Hungary's ambassador to the Holy See and a scion of Austria-Hungary's once ruling family. Habsburg's personal charm and moderate language is far removed from the pugilistic image cultivated by Hungary's foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto.

Habsburg has won the confidence of high-ranking staff in the Vatican's central administration, developing a notable rapport with Cardinal Gallagher, the Vatican's secretary for relations with states (basically, the foreign minister).

Many subordinate staff in the Vatican's diplomatic corps, however, remain wary of engaging with the Hungarian government, a Vatican correspondent told BIRN this week.

Pope Francis attends a meeting with members of The Ecumenical Council of Churches and the delegation of Jewish organizations at the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, Hungary, 12 September 2021. TEPA-EFE/LUCA ZENNARO Partners in 'peace'

Personal affability would not, however, have been enough to secure the sea change in Vatican-Hungary relations which has occurred over the last 18 months.

A number of changes in communication and policy cooperation have been needed to bring about a...