Pope Francis told President Plevneliev, who leads the Bulgarian delegation in the Vatican on the occasion of the day of Bulgarian education and culture and the Slavic script, that he acknowledges Bulgaria’s role and historic mission in creating and distributing the Slavic script and culture. This year the visit is dedicated to 1,150th anniversary of the talks between Prince Boris I (852-889) and Pope Nicholas which gave the start of the diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the Holy See. For the first time the Bulgarian delegation will have access to the Vatican library, where historical documents are kept.
As a special sign of respect to the Bulgarian people and the deed of the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius, Pope Francis received a record large delegation from Bulgaria and the meeting lasted longer than planned.
During the audience Pope Francis highlighted Bulgaria’s role as a responsible factor in the Balkans and as a state that currently sets a positive example for the world in a region surrounded by a myriad of crises. “His Holiness thanked the Bulgarian people for preserving the Christian values, for the attitude of tolerance and understanding between the different religions, and also for the respect to the orthodox and catholic temples, synagogues, and mosques in the country,” the Head of State told journalists after the end of the audience.
“The ordinary people are most important. Work so as to make sure that the ordinary people can see that that state is on their side and feel its success.” This was the message conveyed by Pope Francis to President Rosen Plevneliev and the Bulgarian delegation, which includes members of the political parties represented in Parliament as well as leaders of Bulgarian spiritual and cultural institutions. “The economy and politics should serve the ordinary people. They should lead to unity. However, this is possible only if they are based on common human and Christian values,” his Holiness emphasized.
The severe humanitarian situation and the huge refugee flows towards Europe caused by the Middle East and North African crises, were also discussed at the meeting. Pope Francis called on for seeking a solution which would unite the interests of all communities, taking into account that “the most sacred care is namely that for the ordinary people, who deserve to see that their dignity is respected.” On the occasion 1,100th anniversary of Saint Clement of Ohrid’s dormition, the Head of State gave Pope Francis as a gift a replica of an icon of the saint, which is kept in the Rozhen Monastery, and part of his hagiology. Pope Francis gave President Plevneliev a replica of a sculpture of an olive tree with strong roots. However, the crown of the tree is divided into two – a symbol of humankind’s current problems and of the danger of disunity. The sculpture conveys the Pope’s message of unity – just as united and strong the roots of the olive tree are, so united should its crown be.
During the audience President Rosen Plevneliev invited Pope Francis to visit our country soon and his Holiness assured the Head of State that he will do so in the next years during his visits to the region.
Within his visit, President Rosen Plevneliev held talks with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, his Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The Head of State paid homage at the tombs of Pope John Paul II, Pope John XXIII, and Saint Peter.