One of the most important prelates in the Catholic Church in Hungary has warned that the enormous waves of migrants rolling into Europe are due in no small part to a Muslim “will to conquer,” by expanding their territory into the continent.

“Jihad is a principle for Muslims that means they must expand,” said Archbishop Gyula Marfi in an interview Wednesday. “The earth must become dar al-Islam, that is, Islamic territory, by introducing Shariah—Islamic law.”

The archbishop of Veszprém said that although there may be other motivations, the conquest of European territory for Islam plays a significant role in the unusual pressure to migrate to Europe.

“There have always been wars and environmental disasters, but the fact that there is now so much pressure on Europe cannot be a coincidence,” he said, adding that the Muslims’ “will to conquer” is also a key factor.

Beyond the migrants themselves, Marfi said that there has been an economic push, with financial support from Arab banks driving the migration from Muslim lands into Europe.

“They do not let them come into Qatar or the United Arab Emirates, but they give them money and incite them to immigrate here,” he said.

“Migration does not only have causes, it also has a purpose,” the archbishop said, “such as the destabilization of Europe and the Euro.”

Asked about recent declarations from Pope Francis about welcoming migrants in Christ’s name, Marfi said that the Pope had to be careful not to come out strongly against Islamic violence, because otherwise Muslims could take out their revenge on Middle Eastern Christians.

Marfi said that in the face of the current attack, it is urgent that Europe rediscover its Christian roots.

“If we look around us at architecture, the arts, literature or music, we find everywhere that the most determining values are born from the Christian faith. If we throw this all away there will be nothing left, and our culture will lose its meaning,” he said.

The loss of meaning goes beyond culture, Marfi said, and extends especially to moral values. “When sexuality, love, affection and life are detached from each other, we are left with an ideological vacuum as well as a demographic vacuum.”

“I have never dishonored the Muslims but their morals are completely different from ours,” Marfi said.

“What for us is a sin, for them is a virtue. What we consider a minor fault, for them is a mortal sin,” he said. “For example, for them to deceive a kafir (infidel) is a particularly good action. We have to consider this, without judging. Nobody wants to harm them, nor do I hate them. I love and respect them. I pray for them every day.”

At the same time, Marfi said, “just because we love the wolves, as God’s creatures, doesn’t mean we let them enter among the sheep, even if they come in sheep’s clothing.”

“It is not their fault if they want to occupy Europe,” he said. “It is our fault” if we allow them.

“Jesus told us to be as gentle as doves, but also as astute as serpents,” Marfi said.

Listen to Dr. Williams discuss this article on Breitbart News Daily on SiriusXM:

Follow Thomas D. Williams on Twitter Follow @tdwilliamsrome