Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén has said the persecution of Christians is today’s humanitarian crisis.
Opening an exhibition on the persecution of Christians in warzones at the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest, the Deputy PM said one out of eight Christians is persecuted for their faith today, mainly in Islamic countries. During the event, tied to the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress now under way in Budapest, he said the persecution of Christians is not unheard of in the West, either, arguing that Christians in those countries often face losing their jobs.
Cardinal Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, said it was impossible to celebrate the Eucharist without mentioning the trials of Christians persecuted for their faith. “In such cases, we feel a particularly close alliance and solidarity with them, and we try to help them to the best of our ability,” Cardinal Erdő said. Tristan Azbej, the state secretary in charge of the Hungary Helps humanitarian scheme and aiding persecuted Christians, said Hungary will send life-saving humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and nearby safe countries. The first round of aid will help some 1,000 families, he said.