SW News: The Holy Father Pope Francis reminded the thousands of believers gathered at Kossuth Lajos Square in Budapest on Sunday, April 30, that Christ came as the Good Shepherd to call everyone and bring them home. In the homily preached during Holy Mass in the morning, the pontiff told them that Christians are called by name by the Good Shepherd to spread His love and to make His fold all-inclusive.
Pope Francis told the multitudes comprising believers from all corners of the country and numerous religious and priests that everyone is called to foster fraternity and avoid divisions. He told them to open their hearts to mutual love. As the shepherd calls His sheep, He leads them out and sends them into the world to “become witnesses of the love that has given us new birth”.
The Holy Father went on to say that Christ is the door that brings people into the fold of the Church. He bemoaned the doors that are closed to those who are lonely, the deprived masses, migrants and those who are ‘irregular’. “Please, let us open those doors! Let us try to be, in our words, deeds, and daily activities, like Jesus, an open door, a door that is never shut in anyone’s face, a door that enables everyone to enter and experience the beauty of God’s love,” he exhorted everyone.
Before concluding, he had a word of advice to all the bishops and priests. He urged them to be "increasingly open doors, 'facilitators' of God's grace”. The pope invited lay believers, catechists and pastoral workers to be open and inclusive so that in this manner Hungary will grow in fraternity which is the path to peace.
He wound up by inviting all Hungarians to be filled with hope and to remember that Jesus the Good Shepherd calls them by name and cares for them with infinite tender love.
The Holy Mass was offered by Primate of Hungary Cardinal Peter Erdo of Esztergom-Budapest while the pope presided over it vested in a stole and cope. The Mass was said at an altar set up in a raised pavilion adorned with flowers and sporting a simple crucifix and an icon of the Holy Mother.  Also present on the pavilion were the cardinals and prelates of Hungary and the pope's entourage. The whole square on the shore of the Danube was a sea of believers on the bright Sunday morning.
Hundreds of priests in cassock and chasuble concelebrated. Several male and female religious of various congregations were present for Holy Mass along with members of the Knights of Malta in their formal attire. The Mass was said in Latin with certain prayers and hymns in Hungarian. The prayer of the faithful was read in five languages--Ukrainian, Romanian, Croatian, Slovenian, and Slovakian--apart from Hungarian. Even the Hungarian hymns sung by the 100-plus choir were based on Gregorian music making the Mass all the more solemn.