VATICAN CITY — A recent development in Hungary highlights emerging progress in strengthening safeguarding practices, as the local Church continues to engage with regional efforts supported by the Commission. 

In Hungary, a significant public moment of prayer and accountability marked a step forward in the Church’s safeguarding journey. On 20 February, an international exhibition titled “Recognise. Respond. Safeguarding Minors in the Church Environment” opened at Sapientia College in Budapest. The exhibition originates from a regional initiative led by the Child Dignity Center at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv. 

The opening coincided with the First Friday of Lent, intentionally chosen as an occasion for reflection and prayer, following practices already adopted in several countries across Central and Eastern Europe. During the event, the President of the Hungarian Catholic Bishops’ Conference publicly asked forgiveness on behalf of the Church in Hungary for past failures in protecting minors. This marked the first public gesture of its kind at the level of the Bishops’ Conference. 

The exhibition itself features installations by Ukrainian artist Uliana Krekhovets, including painted white T-shirts that symbolically evoke both protection and vulnerability. The works invite reflection on hidden suffering, responsibility, and the conditions necessary for healing and the rebuilding of trust. 

This development took place within the framework of regional safeguarding initiatives accompanied by the Commission, which has been supporting Hungary in preparation for its upcoming ad limina visit. Within these exchanges, the idea of a shared liturgical moment for public prayer and acknowledgment emerged, and the Bishops’ Conference chose to adopt this approach. 

Feedback from the faithful has been notably positive, with many recognising the public act of prayer and apology as a meaningful sign of growing transparency, accountability, and commitment to safeguarding within the Church.