Pope Francis sends video greetings to the Bulgarian people ahead of visit

Two days before the start of his Apostolic Journey to Bulgaria (May 5-7), His Holiness Pope Francis addressed the Bulgarian people in a video message on 3^rd of May. In the message, the Holy Father acknowledged the great work lifework of the Saintly Brothers Sts Cyril and Methodius. He emphasized on the upcoming meeting with His Holiness the Bulgarian patriarch Neophyte.

In the video address, the Pope said that his journey to Bulgaria would be under the motto Pacem in terris – Peace on Earth. This was the title of an encyclical written in 1963 by Pope John XXIII, who earlier in his life spent almost 10 years in Sofia as apostolic legate Angelo Roncalli and established relations of respect and affection with the Bulgarian people, which continue to this day, Pope Francis said.

He said that for him and those accompanying him, the visit would be a pilgrimage in the sign of faith, unity and peace. Bulgaria had been a land of witnesses of faith since the time when the Saintly Brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius sowed the Gospel there.

The work of Cyril and Methodius had been very beneficial and had brought much fruit in the difficult moments of the past century, Pope Francis said. “This was repeated many times by Saint John Paul II, who worked so much so that Europe could rediscover the liberating power of Christ and be able to breathe again with both lungs.”

“Following the footsteps of John Paul II, I will have the honour of meeting His Grace the Patriarch and the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Together we will show the desire to follow the Lord Jesus on the road of brotherly communion among all Christians”, the Pope noted.

He added that his pilgrimage would go under the sign of memory of the holy Father John XXIII, who in his years in Sofia as apostolic legate, established with the Bulgarian people bonds of respect and love that continue to this day. He was a man of faith, of fellowship, of peace. That is why I chose the title of his historic encyclical ‘Pacem in terris’ as the motto of the visit.

“I would like to ask you to accompany me with your prayer. Thank you. May God grant peace and prosperity to Bulgaria,” the Pope concluded his video message.