SW News: Hungary's State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians says that Pope Francis' three-day visit to the country can give people a spiritual and moral boost. In an exclusive interview with Shalom World ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis to the country, Tristan Azbej said that the historic visit of the Holy Father during a crisis period is very much needed for encouraging the desperate people.

Azbej said Hungary is rooted in Christian values and virtues, so the country's policies should reflect the same. Therefore, the government and the political leadership introduce policies regarding human dignity and freedom that align with the Bible's teachings. He added that a part of this is seen in defending family values.

Being a 'family-friendly country,' the Hungarian government defends the traditional marriage system. Azbej went on to say that they believe children are gifts of providence and so they promote the birth of more than one child in a family with a slew of incentives and sops.

Citing the surging demographic winter in Europe, he added that there will not be a future if there are no children. And against the backdrop of this, Hungary focuses on the 'culture of life' and the 'culture of the family' said the top official in the Viktor Orban government. He cited instances where the government assists the family with more children. For example, a mother of four is exempted from paying personal income taxes. In addition, many other incentives are given to the family for taking loans and additional financial support.

Azbej said that the Holy Father, who is aware of the Hungarian initiatives, has welcomed the same and urged them to 'Go Ahead' with the traditional family values based upon the Bible teachings.

Azbej also recalled the initiatives launched by the Orban government to help persecuted Christians around the world. Even though more than 300 million people face persecution due to their faith, the State Secretary denounced how the international communities fail to address the same. Emphasizing that Hungary is a Christian nation and has the responsibility to help fellow Christians, Azbej said the 'Hungary Helps' government initiatives to assist the persecuted took form. After six years of its commencement, the initiative has reached around one million persecuted people worldwide.

During his interview with Shalom World, the State Secretary said that Europe is facing an identity crisis. He called for a re-discovery of Christian values across Europe as these values face attacks, including being pushed aside in the continent.

In the interview, he recalled the Holy Father's gentleness towards the 'most vulnerable' people. Azbej pointed out the support provided by the Hungarians towards such people, especially to the Ukrainians who fled the war. He said the Pope's meeting with the refugees and poor emphasized our responsibility to turn to these people. The State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians also expressed hope that the Pope's visit would help revitalize the Christian faith in Hungary.