Pope Francis has kicked off his first full day in Bulgaria, May 5-7, 2019, for his 29th Apostolic Visit to Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia.
ZENIT’s Senior Vatican Correspondent, Deborah Lubov, is on the ground and bringing you the latest. Here is our interview with the President of the Bulgarian Bishops Conference, Bishop Christo Proykov.
Despite a delicate ecumenical situation in Bulgaria, Pope Francis is being welcomed with joy. The Pontiff was welcomed by little ones in traditional Bulgarian attire, when getting off his aircraft, met with the Prime Minister in Sofia Airport, and then made a courtesy visit to the Presidential Palace in Sofia, where he met with the President, and as is tradition, addressed authorities.
Afterward, the Pope and papal entourage met with the Bulgarian Orthodox Church’s Holy Synod, including Patriarch Neophyte, leader of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Simeon II, last reigning Bulgarian Monarch and former Prime Minister was also present. Despite rain threats this morning, so far the weather has held out and stayed dry, during the Holy Father’s morning activities, including his Sunday Angelus.
Here is the full Vatican-provided program of the Pope’s agenda:
| Sunday 5 May 2019 ROME-SOFIA |
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| 07:00 | Departure by air from Rome-Fiumicino International Airport to Sofia | ||
| 10:00 | Arrival at Sofia International Airport | ||
| OFFICIAL WELCOME | |||
| MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER in the Governmental Lounge of the Airport | |||
| WELCOME CEREMONY in the square adjacent to the Presidential Palace | |||
| COURTESY VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC in the Presidential Palace | |||
| MEETING with the AUTHORITIES, with CIVIL SOCIETY and the DIPLOMATIC CORPS in Atanas Burov Square | Address of the Holy Father | ||
| VISIT TO THE PATRIARCH AND TO THE HOLY SYNOD in the Palace of the Holy Synod | Address of the Holy Father | ||
| PRIVATE PRAYER BEFORE THE THRONE OF SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Saint Alexander Nevsky | |||
| REGINA COELI in Saint Alexander Nevsky Square | Regina Coeli | ||
| 16:45 | HOLY MASS in Knyaz Alexandar SquareI | Homily of the Holy Father | |
| Monday 6 May 2019 SOFIA-RAKOVSKY-SOFIA |
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| VISIT TO A REFUGEE CAMP | |||
| 09:30 | Departure by air from Rakovsky | ||
| HOLY MASS WITH FIRST COMMUNIONS in the Church of the Sacred Heart of Rakovsky | Homily of the Holy Father | ||
| Lunch with the bishops of Bulgaria in the Convent of the Franciscan Sisters | |||
| MEETING WITH THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY in the Church of Saint Michael Archangel in Rakovsky | Address of the Holy Father | ||
| 17:15 | Departure by air for Sofia | ||
| PRAYER FOR PEACE PRESIDED AT BY THE HOLY FATHER IN THE PRESENCE OF LEADERS OF THE VARIOUS RELIGIOUS CONFESSIONS IN BULGARIA in Nezavisimost Square in Sofia | Prayer of the Holy Father | ||
| Tuesday 7 May 2019 SOFIA-SKOPJE-ROME |
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| FAREWELL CEREMONY in Sofia International Airport | ||||
| 08:20 | Departure by air from Sofia Airport for Skopje | |||
| 08:15 | Arrival at Skopje International Airport | |||
| OFFICIAL WELCOME | ||||
| WELCOME CEREMONY in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace | ||||
| COURTESY VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT in the Presidential Palace | ||||
| MEETING with the PRIME MINISTER in the Presidential Palace | ||||
| MEETING with the AUTHORITIES, with CIVIL SOCIETY and with the DIPLOMATIC CORPS in the Mosaique Hall of the Presidential Palace | Address of the Holy Father | |||
| VISIT TO THE MOTHER TERESA MEMORIAL WITH THE PRESENCE OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND MEETING WITH THE POOR | Prayer of the Holy Father | |||
| HOLY MASS in Macedonia Square | Homily of the Holy Father | |||
| Lunch with the Papal Entourage | ||||
| ECUMENICAL AND INTERRELIGIOUS MEETING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE in the Pastoral Centre | Address of the Holy Father | |||
| MEETING WITH PRIESTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND RELIGIOUS in the Cathedral | Address of the Holy Father | |||
| FAREWELL CEREMONY at Skopje International Airport | ||||
| 18:30 | Departure of Papal aircraft for Rome-Ciampino | |||
| 20:30 | Arrival at Roma-Ciampino International Airport | |||
https://zenit.org/articles/exclusive-interview-president-of-bulgarian-bishops-archbishop-proykov-of-sofia-on-popes-visit-to-bulgaria-zenit-is-on-the-ground/
