Pope Francis meets with Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Hungary, criticises his latter's actions

The Pope held mass at “Budapest Heroes Square” to mark the end of a major Catholic conference taking place in the city, calling on congregations to lay down their arms for all, apparently criticising Prime Minister Orban for migration policies.

He also met with Hungarian religious figures and the country's political leaders during a brief stop, ahead of his four-day stay in Slovakia.

The Vatican leader and the prime minister of Hungary disagree on a host of issues, including migration, and Francis' limited time in Budapest may indicate that he did not want to give the Orban government political priority to wait for him for a longer pilgrimage, ahead of next year's general elections.

Orban has often described his government as a defender of Christian civilisation in Europe and a protection against migration from predominantly Muslim countries, writes Guardian, broadcast Klankosova.tv.

Francescu has expressed solidarity with immigrants and refugees and criticised what he called the “national populism” advanced by the Hungarian government.

The religious feeling has been the blood of this nation, so attached to its roots. However, the cross, planted on earth, not only invites us to be well rooted but also raises and spreads its wings towards all”, Francescu told the Hungarians.