Francis today met with leaders from Bulgaria and Macedonia, in Rome for an annual visit to mark the feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius.
Vatican Radio reported that the delegation from Bulgaria was led by Marin Raykov, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The delegation from the Republic of Macedonia was led by Trajko Valjanoski, President of the Parliament.
The feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, according to the Julian calendar, falls today.
The two saints were the first evangelizers of Eastern Europe, in particular the regions of Moravia and Pannonia, inhabited by Slavic peoples for which Cyril invented an alphabet in which to translate the Bible.
Delegates on the official visit made a stop at the Basilica of San Clemente, which is home to the tomb of St. Cyril.
