Pope Francis wraps up trip to Hungary and Slovakia

Pope Francis arrives for the Holy Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows in Sastin, Slovakia, September 15, 2021. REUTERS/David Cerny

SASTIN, Slovakia (Reuters) - Pope Francis wrapped up on Wednesday his trip to Hungary and Slovakia, during which he urged the predominantly Catholic countries not to close up and to avoid using religion for politics.

On the last day of his journey, Francis presided over an open air Mass for more than 50,000 people at a national shrine in Western Slovakia, traditionally popular with women in difficult marriages.