SW News: Special gifts awaited Pope Francis at Sandor Palace where he had discussions with Hungarian President Katalin Novak. After escorting him into the palace after the official welcome ceremony on its parvis on Friday, April 28, President Novak showed the Holy Father several gifts, including a bunch of roses having a special connection with St Elizabeth of Hungary.

Earlier, on her Facebook page, President Novak had written about the gifts that she would present to the pontiff. "In addition to the album containing the works of Hungarian children and young people with a biblical theme, I will present such special rose stems to the Holy Father."

This particular variety of roses was bred by a Transylvanian Hungarian Mark Gergely and named after the popular saint Elizabeth of Arpad-haza, who is commonly known as St Elizabeth of Hungary in the Catholic world. Speaking to the Holy Father in Spanish, the fourth foreign language spoken by the president, Novak explained the significance of the roses. It is said that once roses bloomed from a loaf of bread when it was placed on the hands of the saint and that particular variety was named after her.

The president also gifted the Holy Father a special art album containing Biblical representations tastefully done by Hungarian children and youth. They were specially dedicated to the Holy Father. “So, symbolically, I will give the gift of the young to Pope Francis,” the President wrote on Facebook.

During the welcome ceremony, the pope was given a guard of honor during which the anthems of Hungary and the Vatican were played. The Vatican entourage led by Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Hungarian ecclesiastical dignitaries paid their respects to President Novak. Also present on the occasion was Prime Minister Viktor Orban and other members of the cabinet who greeted the Holy Father.