SW News: The Holy Father Pope Francis began the second day of his Apostolic Visit to Hungary by meeting visually and physically challenged children of a Catholic institution. On Saturday, April 29, the pontiff visited the Bl. Laszlo Batthyany Strattmann Institute in the Hungarian capital Budapest.

At the institute, the pope was warmly welcomed by the director of the institute Georgy and the staff. The Holy Father was taken in a wheelchair to the hall where the 72 residents and staff had assembled to greet the Holy Father. There was a prayer of peace of St Francis of Assisi followed by a rendition of the Hail Mary.

The Hail Mary rendition was followed by a few musical performances for the pope by the residents of the institute who had rehearsed the pieces for several days. During one rendition, a visually challenged child played the piano as the pope listened attentively. There was also a song of thanksgiving which the residents sang with gusto.

While addressing the Holy Father, the director thanked him profusely for making this stopover a part of his itinerary during his Apostolic Visit. While speaking to the residents and the staff, Pope Francis praised the apostolate of the institute and stressed faith in Christ and the Gospel. He thanked them for the welcome and tenderness shown to him. He also conveyed his love and closeness to the residents.

The musical performance was followed by the exchange of gifts. Two students gift the pontiff a handmade shoulder bag in blue and white reminiscent of the Argentine soccer team. In return, the pope gifted the image of Our Lady Untier of Knots to which he is particularly devoted. He became acquainted with this title of the Blessed Mother during his stay in Germany.

Then together with the residents and staff, Pope Francis recited the Our Father in Latin. As he left the venue, everyone sang Taize antiphons in Hungarian.
The Blessed Laszlo Batthyany Strattmann Institute, which was founded by a Hungarian nun, comprises a pre-school, elementary school, social service center, a home for children who have lost their families and a daycare facility for disabled children. It is one of its kind in the Central European nation.