Pope met with Ukrainian refugees in Budapest. PHOTOS

Pope Francis met in Budapest with Ukrainians who fled the country to Hungary.

This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to Reuters.

The meeting was held in the Greek Catholic Church of St Elizabeth. About 600 Ukrainian refugees gathered there.

One of the Ukrainians, Oleh Yakovlev, told the Pope that a year ago he, his wife Liudmyla and their five children had to leave Dnipro after Russian bombing.

Read: Pope Francis: It is necessary to end war in Ukraine by resorting to creative efforts for peace

"We were welcomed here and found a new home, but many people suffered and are still suffering because of the war," Yakovlev told Francis.

Francis said that expressing compassion for those who suffer from poverty and tragedy is an integral part of Christianity, even if the needy are non-believers.

See also: Shmyhal invites Pope Francis to visit Ukraine. PHOTO.

"Even in the midst of pain and suffering, when we receive the balm of love, we find the courage we need to move forward: we find the strength to believe that all is not lost and that a different future is possible," he said.