Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Cardinal Pietro Parolin pays visit to Sofia

БНР Новини
Photo: EPA/BGNES

In the Holy Year of Mercy for all Catholics, on March 20th, Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin arrives in Bulgaria to consecrate the renovated "Assumption Of Mary“ church of Catholics of Eastern rite in Sofia and to discuss the refugee issue at the highest state and church levels.

Pietro Parolin is the youngest Secretary of State of the Vatican, second only to Pope Francis in the hierarchy of the Vatican?

Снимка“He graduated from the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in the Vatican and for ten years he has been ecclesiastical diplomat or nuncio in Nigeria, Mexico, Colombia, and in Venezuela during the Chavez regime. He was the first to establish contacts with Vietnam, calling in defence of religious freedom,” says Dimitar Ganchev from the Bulgarian section of the Vatican Radio. “He has worked in difficult conditions and thanks to him a number of important steps were made in Vatican diplomacy. In 2007 he first established contacts with China and Pope Benedict XVI wrote his first letter to Chinese Catholics, which actually remains one of the major documents of his pontificate. Cardinal Parolin is a diplomat, but above all a priest. He says diplomacy is a tool that allows him to be a priest. He says he is a ‘diplomat of the Gospel.’”

The Assumption of Mary church of Catholics of Eastern riteIn Sofia, Cardinal Parolin will consecrate the Assumption of Mary church of Catholics of Eastern rite - a small community that has existed for more than 160 years and serves as a bridge between the Catholic and Orthodox religion. This gesture could be interpreted in the light of the rapprochement of the Catholic and Orthodox churches at the backdrop of common challenges they face, says the journalist of Vatican Radio.

During his visit, Cardinal Pietro Parolin will also meet President Rosen Plevneliev, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and the Chief Mufti of Muslims in Bulgaria, Mustafa Hadji. The program of the guest includes a meeting with Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Neophyte. This meeting was arranged in October last year during a visit of Nuncio Monsignor Anselmo Guido Pecoraro.

“Topics of discussions were set back then, including the refugee crisis, helping the poor and protecting the environment. Before coming to Bulgaria he would pay a visit to Macedonia and the major topic will be precisely refugees, a very topical issue for Bulgaria. So I think there will be news coming from the meeting between Patriarch Neophyte and the Vatican Secretary of State,” Dimitar Ganchev says.

On the issue of refugees representatives of the two churches have different views. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church calls on authorities to stop welcoming more migrants, while the Pope urges governments and people to open borders for them.

“In a declaration signed by Pope Francis and the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill during a meeting in Cuba in February this year, it was stated that the two churches have common Christian attitude towards refugees,” Dimitar Ganchev recalls and concludes that the topic will be important in the discussion between Patriarch Neophyte and Cardinal Parolin. “During his meeting with the Bulgarian Patriarch, Nuncio Pecoraro said that the Pope shared the concern of the Orthodox Church related to refugees and pointed out that they must comply with all laws in the countries in which they arrive without enjoying privileges. The refugee issue must be seen from a Christian perspective. On Wednesday the Pope once again called on heads of state in Europe to open their hearts and the doors of their countries to immigrants and refugees.”

 It is also time for a solution to another issue to be found, says Dimitar Ganchev and recalls that the 25th anniversary of restoration of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the Vatican was marked last year, but the basic agreement between the two countries remains unsigned. That is the document which would recognise the Catholic Church as a legal entity in Bulgaria, thus allowing it to establish its presence as in the army, hospitals, prisons, etc.


English: Alexander Markov




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Blackthorn festival will take place in the village of Salash near Belogradchik

The second edition of the unique Blackthorn Festival will be held today in the village of Salash near Belogradchik, northeastern Bulgaria. The event will begin on the square, where locals will offer sweets and jam from tart blackthorns collected in..

published on 10/11/25 6:10 AM

Balkan developments

U.S. sanctions on NIS activated despite expectations of delay U.S. sanctions on Serbian oil company NIS – Naftna Industrija Srbije came into force on Thursday after being postponed eight times and despite expectations of yet another postponement,..

published on 10/10/25 2:02 PM

Earth and Man National Museum hosts three-day minerals and fossils exhibition

The Earth and Man National Museum in Sofia is hosting the 33rd Sofia Exhibition of Minerals, Gemstones and Fossils , the institution announced. The three-day event opens today and features companies and collectors of minerals and fossils, as well as..

published on 10/10/25 9:15 AM