In this YouTube interview, Shalom World TV host Neil McDonough speaks with several members of the English youth choir at St. Stephen Basilica in Budapest about Pope Francis' upcoming 2023 visit to Hungary. The participants repeatedly express excitement, describe the papal visit as a source of spiritual renewal, and explain its significance for both personal faith and the broader Hungarian Catholic community. They reference Hungary’s Catholic heritage (St. Stephen, the country’s founding saint), the recent history of the Pope’s visits, the current context of war and unrest, and the hope for peace and blessings. One participant, an environmental historian, frames the visit as a point of pride. The interview is informal, enthusiastic, and punctuated by chants of “Hip hip hooray,” underscoring a celebratory atmosphere.
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Neil McDonough here from Shalom World TV, and I am joined by some of the youth based here in Budapest. So tell me, are you excited for the Pope's visit?
For sure, I am excited. His visit means a lot to me as a Catholic, as somebody who is strong in the church. It actually makes It makes me feel that my spirit and my spiritual belief is renewed, more so with whatever the Pope advocates for, whatever he preaches.
That's beautiful. So yes, it'll strengthen your faith, please God.
Thank you.
And so tell me, what does he think it means for the people of Hungary, the fact that Pope Francis is visiting?
I think it's something very important and special for Hungary, and it's not even the first time that the Pope is visiting here, and it tends to be It used to be like a big event, and yeah, as she mentioned, it's really special for Christian, and he brings a lot of blessings, and it's really something that we we are waiting for.
Yes, fantastic. Thank you. And so, if you could got to speak to the Pope, what would you say to him?
God bless you. Yes, because definitely he is the father of the church, and he's also our leader. And then one thing that I do know personally is that we need to pray for the leader of the church as well. And definitely, outside the Pope's face, God bless you.
Yes, beautiful, beautiful. So tell me, what do you think it means, the fact that Pope Francis has come here? And that will be twice in the last number of years.
Oh, that is so such a blessing for us, for Hungarians. Like, it really strengthens our faith, and it really brings us a lot of joy that he's coming to visit us again in such a short time. We are just really waiting for him to come.
Yes, in anticipation. Fantastic. And so tell me, what does it mean for your own personal faith, the fact that the Vicar of Christ, the Holy Father, is coming here to Budapest?
Today we celebrate Emmaus, which is Christ with us. And that's the visit of the Pope in a country that was founded by a Catholic saint, Saint Stephen. So to be with the Pope in this time of war and unrest is very important for renewing our faith that peace will be possible. about this time.
Fantastic. Pope Francis is visiting this weekend. What does that mean to you?
Oh, it's, it's a lot of excitement for us. We're extremely happy that we're able to meet our dear Pope. It's in fact an honor and privilege for us. Uh, it's a big blessing to the people of Hungary as well, so we're really looking forward to it.
Fantastic. Thank you.
Basically, we would see Jesus in presence of Pope, so that is very much important for us Catholics to be here. So it's a very great moment for us.
Absolutely.
We all love Pope Francis.
Yes, thanks very much. I love him too. Are you excited for the Pope's visit?
Very much. So last time he came for the International Eucharist Conference, so I'm looking forward for meeting him again. It will be a pleasure and it's a blessing to meet His Holiness.
Yes, he's been here twice now in the last couple of years. Very blessed. Are you excited for the Pope's visit?
Of course, I'm very excited to meet him. And as a Catholic and as an environmental historian, it's my pride and my— I consider it as the greatest Yes, that's beautiful.
What does it mean to you that the Pope is coming here to Budapest?
It's, it's a very big excitement for us, and I'm very much waiting for that moment to meet him.
So there's a party atmosphere here in Budapest, so we're going to give 3 cheers for Pope Francis. Hip hip!
