SOFIA, Bulgaria, JULY 30, 2001 (Zenit.org).- This capital city will erect a statue to Pope Blessed John XXIII by next May in front of the Cathedral of St. Joseph.
The monument is in remembrance of his presence in Bulgaria where, as Cardinal Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, he was apostolic nuncio for 10 years.
Last October, Istanbul dedicated a street to John XXIII, who once worked in the Vatican diplomatic service in Turkey. He was beatified last September.