The government's Hungary Helps program has received praise from the Vatican following a meeting between Bence Rétvári, deputy minister of Human Capacities, and the Vatican’s Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.
According to government insiders, Rétvári put forward a detailed report on the Hungary Helps program and other Hungarian activities performed in the interests of assisting persecuted Christians during the meeting in Rome.
Secretary Gallagher said the Hungary Helps program was "praiseworthy" and also a good example to other countries because it reinstills hope in people who have been forced to leave their homes, that they can begin rebuilding their futures once they return home.
Hungary Helps provides support for persecuted Christians at the origin of distress, rather than bringing the problem over to European soil. It helps them rebuild their homes and communities, and provides support to those in need.
The minister detailed how particular attention was devoted to settlement reconstruction in Iraq and on humanitarian aid in Jordan and Lebanon.
Reports state that the archbishop was especially appreciative of the fact that the Hungarian government had invited the leaders of Christians living in persecuted areas to personally visit Hungary, as well as visiting them on site, to help open the eyes of the European people to what is actually happening.
Rétvári said Hungary is going beyond its means to provide assistance for education, housing, healthcare and other humanitarian needs, in addition to providing hundreds of university scholarships.