Pope, in Hungary, warns of rising nationalism in Europe, appeals for accepting migrants

Pope Francis boards the papal plane ahead of his apostolic visit to Hungary at Fiumicino airport in Rome, Italy, April 28, 2023. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Pope Francis, starting a trip to Hungary, on Friday pointedly warned of the dangers of rising nationalism in Europe and told the Budapest government that accepting migrants along with the rest of the continent would be a true sign of Christianity.

In a hard-hitting speech to government leaders including Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has had a series of run-ins with the European Union, Francis also urged a rejection of "self-referential forms of populism" and strictly nationalist interests.