Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has held meetings with Ethiopian Christian leaders at the Carmelite Monastery in Budapest.
According to insiders, the talks focused on the impacts of migration on Europe and Africa, and the persecution of Christians.
Ethiopian Christian leaders told PM Orbán that their churches are opposed to emigration from African countries; they would like young people to find advancement in their own countries. They said those leaving their native land find themselves in an exposed situation, and become the “toys” of people smugglers.
The delegation thanked Hungary for providing scholarships for several Ethiopian young people who, upon the completion of their studies, returned home and now serve their country, and expressed gratitude for the Hungarian government financially supporting the development of a refugee camp and a hospital for the poor in Ethiopia.
At the meeting, the parties agreed that Europe should seek to remain faithful to its Christian heritage. The West should not be ashamed of its Christian identity, whether in times of crises or in better times.
Ethiopia has a population of almost 110 million; 60 percent are Christian, and some 35 percent are Muslims among whom radicalism is intensifying. According to the Christian human rights civil-society organization Open Doors, Ethiopia is one of the 30 countries most at risk from the respect of persecution of Christians.
PM Orbán was joined by Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, head of the Ethiopian Catholic Church, Samson Bekele Demissie, Director General of the Child and Family Affairs Organization (CFAO) of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Girma Borishie Bati, Director of the Development and Social Services Commission (DASSC) of the Mekane Yesus Ethiopian Evangelical Church (EECMY).
Photo credit: kormany.hu