A-   A+
BG

HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO PRIME MINISTER BOYKO BORISSOV: I VERY CORDIALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK TO PROMOTE PEACE

05.05.2019

 

“I thank you for inviting me. I pray for peace and we all pray for peace as war is something very, very ugly and bad.” This is what His Holiness Pope Francis said at the start of his meeting with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov who stately welcomed him at Sofia Airport.

 

Pope Francis is on an official visit to Bulgaria from 5 to 7 May.

 

During the meeting His Holiness Pope Francis congratulated the Bulgarian Prime Minister on Bulgaria’s active work throughout the term of its rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU and in particular, on the country’s role in the process of the European integration of the Western Balkan countries. “It is extremely symbolic that in three days the Pope will go to North Macedonia – for the Agreement on Good Neighborly Relations and for the priority that we always give to peace and to understanding,” Prime Minister Boyko Borissov went to say. He thanked the Holy Father for the opportunity that a Bulgarian delegation may visit the Vatican every year, together with members of the Holy Synod. “We have deep veneration for the Saintly Brothers Cyril and Methodius as their alphabet did a lot for peace and for the education of many peoples in this region. That is why one of the gifts was an icon featuring Cyril and Methodius,” the Prime Minister explained.

 

“I thank you very much for your hospitality. Also I very cordially thank you for your work to promote peace,” the Holy Father stressed at the close of his meeting with Bulgaria’s Prime Minister.