Many celebrations are being planned in Hungary to commemorate John Paul II. At Budapest, in the Church of Matthias (in the Castle of Buda), the rosary will be recited on 2nd April, in the same place where hundreds of faithful gathered in prayer for the dying Pope last year. On the following day the members of the Bishops’ Conference, together with the apostolic nuncio Juliusz Janusz, will celebrate a liturgy in memory of John Paul II, officiated by Cardinal Péter Erdo, primate of Hungary, in St. Stephen’s basilica in Budapest at 6.00 pm; the homily will be given by Archbishop Balázs Bábel of Kalocsa-Kecskemét. After the liturgy, the apostolic nuncio Juliusz Janusz will give his personal memories of the late Pope. The liturgy will also be broadcast by Hungarian Catholic Radio. The parish of Regnum Marianum (Budapest), together with an association, is organizing a pilgrimage to Krakow from 30 March to 3 April, to participate in the commemorative celebrations, with a possible visit to Wadowice. In almost all dioceses and in many churches and communities of Hungary liturgies will be celebrated and prayers recited in memory of John Paul II. The apostolic nuncio Juliusz Janus and Bishop Mihály Mayer of Pécs blessed a new street in the city named after John Paul II on 25 March. The lay faithful, too, have organized many commemorative events, including an invitation to wear a white ribbon in tribute to Karol Wojtyla on 1st and 2nd April, and to light a candle on the windowsill of one’s home at the time of the Pope’s death. The initiative is called “Do not be afraid”.
