Holy Father receives delegation from Patriarchate of Bulgaria

A delegation of the Patriarchate of Bulgaria visited Rome from 26‒30 November, hosted by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, to mark the 20th anniversary of the visit of Saint Pope John Paul II to Bulgaria.

The delegation, led by Bishop Policarp of Belogradchik, Vicar for Patriarch Neofit for the Diocese of Sofia, also comprised clergy from the administration of the Metropolia of Sofia: Revd Archimandrite Evtimij, Revd Deacon Vartolomej and Revd Deacon Policarp; the Secretary of the Patriarch, Mr Angel Mladenov, and the Administrator of the Bulgarian communities in Rome, Revd Ivan Ivanov. The delegation was received in a private audience by Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace on 28 November.

During its stay in Rome, the group also met with the Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, the Rector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Father David Nazar, and Massimiliano Menichetti, Director of Vatican News. During their engagements, the delegation was accompanied by Reverend Jaromír Zádrapa, staff member of the Eastern Section of the DPCU, who is responsible for relations with the Slavic Orthodox Churches.

Pope Francis understook an apostolic journey to Bulgaria in 2019.

^{Photos © Vatican Media}