Hungary pledges support for Nicaraguan Catholics in the wake of increasing oppression
Hungary will provide assistance to members of the Christian community in Nicaragua who are suffering atrocities in the Central American country, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade has announced after a telephone conversation with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Vatican.
Péter Szijjártó wrote on his Facebook page that in recent months there have been several worrying reports from Nicaragua about atrocities against the Catholic community. A few days ago, government decisions were taken that made it impossible for the Jesuits to carry out their activities, and the largest Catholic higher education institution was closed.
“I have assured Father Gallagher that Christians in distress anywhere in the world can count on Hungary, so we are ready to provide scholarships to students of the closed university in Hungary, while at the same time we are in talks with the Jesuits to provide support to the monks in difficulty,” emphasised Péter Szijjártó. The Minister also indicated that he would initiate a meeting with his Nicaraguan counterpart at the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York to ask for an end to the state crackdown on the Catholic community.
Tristan Azbej, the State Secretary responsible for programs to help persecuted Christians, indicated on his social media page that the government will offer scholarships to Nicaraguan Christians through the Hungary Helps program.
The Hungary Helps Program is a specific national model that strengthens international humanitarian engagement in light of the fact that the Hungarian government’s migration and humanitarian policies go hand in hand. Through the program, Hungary is helping people in need not to have to leave their home country, and if possible, even to return to it. With humanitarian aid provided through the Hungary Helps Program, the government has so far enabled half a million people to stay in their home country or return home.
The program is also aimed at assisting persecuted Christians around the world, particularly in the Middle East.
In 2016, Hungary became the first country to launch such a scheme.
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Photo: Szijjártó Péter