Pope Francis arrived in Hungary on Sunday on his first foreign trip since undergoing intestinal surgery in July, kicking off a four-day pilgrimage with an awkward meeting with Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who represents the type of populist, nationalist leader Francis frequently criticizes. The Vatican said the meeting was held in a ``cordial atmosphere`` and lasted longer than expected 40 minutes. ``Among the various topics discussed were the role of the church in the country, the commitment to the protection of the environment, the protection and promotion of the family,`` said a Vatican statement. Francis is only spending seven hours in Budapest before moving Sunday afternoon onto a four-day tour of neighboring Slovakia. The lopsided itinerary suggested that Francis wanted to avoid giving Orban the political boost that comes with hosting a pope for a proper state visit ahead of elections next spring.
