Central European episcopacies are about to begin a joint aid collection for refugee camps in the Middle East based on a proposal put forward by Hungarian Minister of State for Churches, National Minorities and Civil Affairs Miklós Soltész during his meeting in Poland with Archbishop of Warsaw Kazimierz Nycz.

At the press conference following their meeting, Mr. Soltész said that they agreed that the issues of the migration crisis could only be solved through joint efforts of European nations by getting to the root of the problem. To this end, Middle Eastern Christian communities must be supported and local charities must be given assistance. Regarding the migration wave affecting Europe, Mr. Soltész said that “every country has its tasks and responsibilities, as do the churches and Christians”.

In this spirit, during his meeting with Archbishop Nycz, Mr. Soltész proposed that Polish dioceses should join the initiative in which Central European churches would organize joint aid collection at the end of October and early November for the refugee camps in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. Similarly to the Bishop of the Polish Evangelical Church Jerzy Samiec, who also met Mr. Soltész on Thursday in Warsaw, Archbishop Nycz was positively disposed towards the idea as well.

Mr. Soltész said that Hungary also approached or will approach shortly the episcopacies of Croatia, Austria, Slovakia and Romania with the same proposal. Beyond aid collection, the other goal of the initiative would be to promote regional cooperation. Mr. Soltész said that the refugee crisis has created tensions among the region’s states who must show that “they cannot be pitted againts each other” and that a problem of such magnitude “could result in a catharsis leading us back to our Christian roots, thereby also sending a message to other European nations”.

During the press conference Mr. Soltész also said that in dealing with the migration crisis, Hungary observes the Schengen rules and defends its borders, while taking into account humanitarian aspects as well.

(Ministry of Human Capacities)