Faculty of Theology

Archbishop Michael Wallace Banach, the Apostolic Nuncio of Hungary, visited Szeged on Wednesday, where he called attention to the need for the Church and the faithful to become more open. The Archbishop was attending a conference focusing on the Pope’s apostolic exhortation of 10 years ago.

“The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and souls of those who encounter Jesus and allow him to save them, freeing them from sin, isolation and inner emptiness. With Christ, joy is always born and reborn.”

– this is how Archbishop Michael Wallace Banach, the Apostolic Nuncio of Hungary, invited Christians to the new evangelisation era in Szeged on Wednesday.

The Institute of Catechetics of the Diocese of Szeged-Csanád and the University of Szeged organised a pastoral-catechetical conference entitled Via Ecclesiæ at the University of Gál Ferenc on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the publication of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. This is the event the Archbishop participated in.

It is also clear from the Pope’s apostolic exhortation that the Church is called to proclaim the joy of the Gospel, which is the source of our strength. For this reason, the Church must not lose direct contact with the people and must not become a group of the chosen few. We need a church that engages in dialogue, that is sensitive to the weak, that welcomes all and that courageously brings the prophecy of the Gospel to all. As Pope Francis writes in his exhortation, the Church must have open doors and an open heart.”

– explained Michael Wallace Banach.

But the Apostolic Nuncio said the Pope also warns that we too must have open doors to let the Lord of life into our hearts and then step out and become open doors in society to help Hungary grow on the path of brotherhood and peace.

In addition to Michael Wallace Banach, other speakers at Wednesday’s conference included Ubaldo Montisci, Director of the Catechetical Institute of the Faculty of Education of the Salesians University of Pope Benedict XVI. László Kiss-Rigó, Bishop of Szeged-Csanád, also welcomed the participants, saying that the anniversary is not the only reason for the conference, but also that in times of war, mad ideologies destroy the dignity of man, and that the hope and joy of the Gospel are therefore very much needed.