POPE PRAISES "HEROIC FIDELITY" TO CHRIST DURING COMMUNISM

VATICAN CITY, MAY 23, 2002 (VIS) - Following a three-hour flight on Azerbaijani Airlines, Pope John Paul arrived in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, shortly after 6 p.m., local time and was driven to St. Alexander Nevsky Square, one of the city's principal squares, for the official welcome ceremony. The ceremony took place in the presence of Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov, Orthodox Patriarch Maxim, the country's Catholic bishops, the diplomatic corps and other civil and religious authorities.

The Orthodox cathedral of the same name, St. Alexander Nevsky, the patriarchal palace, the old Orthodox Church of St. Sophia, the Monument of the Unknown Soldier, parliament, city hall and other public buildings are all located on this square.

The Holy Father, in opening remarks to those gathered in the square, thanked "Almighty God for allowing me to fulfill a desire that I have long held in my heart," of visiting Bulgaria. He recalled that annually he receives in the Vatican a delegation from Bulgaria on the feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, the brothers who evangelized this part of the world. "Today it is the bishop of Rome who comes to you," he stated.

Referring to Blessed Pope John XXIII who was apostolic delegate in Bulgaria for ten years, the Pope said that, "in memory of him, I greet everyone with affection and I say to all that I have never ceased to love the Bulgarian people."

The Holy Father then greeted civil and religious authorities, his fellow Catholic bishops and Christians of other ecclesial communities, the Jewish community and the followers of Islam led by the Grand Mufti. He had special words for His Holiness Patriarch Maxim and all Orthodox faithful in Bulgaria. "I fervently hope that my visit will serve to increase our knowledge of each other so that, with God's help and on the day and in the way that pleases Him, we shall finally live 'united in the same mind and judgment'."

Recalling the centuries of "abundant fruits of Christian witness," John Paul II remarked that, "even during the long cold winter of the totalitarian system, which brought suffering to your country and to many other European nations, fidelity to the Gospel did not disappear, and numberless children of this people remained heroically faithful to Christ, in not a few cases to the point of sacrificing their lives. ... May their sacrifice not be in vain, and may it serve as an example and make fruitful your ecumenical commitment with a view to full unity."

"Wounds need to be healed and the future needs to be planned with optimism," declared the Holy Father. "At the same time there is need to move forward with wisdom, ... promoting the values on which the greatness of the Nation is founded: moral and intellectual honesty, the defense of the family, care of the needy, respect for human life from conception until natural death. I express my hope that the efforts to achieve social renewal, which Bulgaria is courageously undertaking, will be wisely and generously supported by the European Union."

In closing, John Paul II pointed out that "Christianity is part of the roots of this country's history and culture" and added that "the Catholic Church, with the daily commitment of her children and the ready availability of her structures, intends to contribute to maintaining and developing the heritage of spiritual and cultural values of which the country is so proud."
At the end of the ceremony, at 7:30 p.m., a floral wreath was placed on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Pope's name. The papal car then circled St. Alexander Nevsky Square and proceeded to the apostolic nunciature, where Blessed John XXIII was nuncio from 1924 to 1934.

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ECUMENISM TO MARK PAPAL VISIT TO BULGARIA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 23, 2002 (VIS) - On May 11 in the Vatican, Pope John Paul II welcomed Bulgaria's foreign minister, Solomon Passy, Metropolitan Kalinik and a delegation from this Balkan nation on the occasion of the Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius. In his speech, the Pope spoke of his imminent trip to Bulgaria, saying that "while my visit to your country will have a pastoral purpose, that of confirming my Catholic brothers and sisters in their faith, it is also my fervent desire to strengthen the bonds of Christian communion between the Catholic Church and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church."

Bulgaria, a nation of almost 8 million people, is bordered by Romania, Turkey, Greece, Macedonia and Serbia and has 354 kilometers (212 miles) of coastline on the Black Sea. Sofia, the capital, has 1.1 million inhabitants. Bulgarian, Armenian, Greek, Macedonian, Romanian and Turkish are the principal languages of the three main ethnic groups: Bulgarians (87 percent), Turks (9.4) and Gypsies (3.7). Orthodox are 86 percent of the population, Muslims 13 and Catholics, of both Latin and Byzantine rite, are 1 per cent.

There are 80,000 Catholics in Bulgaria in 3 ecclesiastical circumscriptions and 54 parishes, under the pastoral care of 5 bishops, 51 priests and 88 religious. There are 68 catechists and 214 pastoral ministry workers. Archbishop Antonio Mennini is the apostolic nuncio in Bulgaria.

There are two Latin rite dioceses: Nicopoli, and Sofia and Plovdiv. Nicopoli, whose bishop is Msgr. Perko Jordanov Christov, O.F.M.Conv., has 30,000 Catholics. There are 7 seminarians and in 2001 there were 108 baptisms. The bishop of the diocese of Sofia and Plovdiv, which has 35,000 Catholics in 16 parishes, is Msgr.Gheorghi Ivanov Jovcev. There are 4 seminarians. In the year 2000 there were 276 baptisms.

There are 15,000 Catholics in the 20 parishes of the apostolic exarchate for Bulgarians of the Byzantine-Slavic rite. The apostolic exarch is Bishop Christo Proykov. There are 3 seminarians and last year there were 60 baptisms.

The Orthodox in Bulgaria number 8 million: there are 2,000 ecclesiastics and over 120 monasteries. His Holiness, Patriarch Maxim Marin Naidenov Minkov, was elected in 1971 as the head of the Orthodox Church in Bulgaria.

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POPE DISAVOWS BULGARIAN CONNECTION IN ATTEMPT ON HIS LIFE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2002 (VIS) - A joint statement was issued today by the director of the Holy See Press Office and the Press Office of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria. Following are excerpts:

"The President of the Republic of Bulgaria Mr. Georgi Parvanov greeted His Holiness Pope John II and expressed his deep respect and recognition to the Holy Father for his contribution and active role aimed at strengthening peace in the world, at the building of a more just society and the promotion of a dialogue and understanding between religions and peoples. President Parvanov pointed out to the esteem of the Bulgarian people for the Holy Father, which excludes Bulgaria's involvement in the assassination attempt on his life.

[At this point, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, stated: 'I would like to add that the Pope has told the President that he had never believed in the so-called 'Bulgarian connection' which blamed a people whom he fondly likes and admires.']"
"Both sides confirmed the importance of respecting the principles of religious freedom and the freedom of conscience as the basic principles of democracy. A common desire to further develop bilateral relations in the social, charitable, scientific and cultural fields was expressed. Both sides also declared their readiness to start the preparation of an agreement between Bulgaria and the Holy See in that connection.

"Both sides condemned racism, xenophobia and ethnic intolerance and called for active measures against terrorism, organized crime, illegal drug-trafficking and the traffic of people, child pornography and the exploitation of child labor. Globalization should go hand in hand with solidarity in order to prevent the growing gap between the rich and the poor countries."

"Both sides exchanged views on questions pertaining to peace, security and cooperation in Europe."

"The Holy Father voiced his support for the efforts of the Republic of Bulgaria to become a full member of the European Union in order to provide its contribution with its history and culture, which to a great degree have been forged by Christianity."

"Both sides expressed satisfaction with peace and stabilization in South-East Europe and particularly in the Western Balkans."

"The Balkans are part of Europe. Both sides agreed that it is necessary to do everything in their power for the faster integration of the region into the European Union, for its economic and social revival.

"Both sides voiced their deep anxiety over the ongoing violence in the Middle East. They emphasized that violence is to come to an end, Israeli-Palestinian negotiations are to be resumed in the nearest future through the joint efforts of the two sides as well, backed by the international community, in order to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting resolution of the conflict. A common belief was expressed to the effect that peace talks are the only chance to find a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of the principle 'land for peace' and on U.N. Security Council resolutions, by guaranteeing the right of all countries in the region to live in peace and security within the internationally-recognized borders."

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DIVISION DAMAGES PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL

VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2002 (VIS) - The Pope celebrated Mass this morning in private in the chapel of the apostolic nunciature and later went to the presidential palace to make a courtesy visit to the president of the Republic of Bulgaria, Georgi Parvanov. From there, he continued on to the patriarchal cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky, the biggest Orthodox church in the Balkan peninsula, which was completed in 1912 and dedicated to Nevsky, prince of Novgorod, Russia in honor of the Russian liberators after five centuries of Ottoman domination.

At the end of the visit to the cathedral, the Holy Father went to the Monument of Saints Cyril and Methodius, where a floral wreath was laid, and then to the patriarchal palace where he was received by His Holiness the Orthodox Patriarch of Bulgaria, Maxim, and the fifteen members of the Holy Synod.

After a brief address by Patriarch Maxim, the Pope began his speech, in Bulgarian, by recalling that May 24 - the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius - was a very significant day for him because, from the beginning of his pontificate, Bulgarian delegations have come to the Vatican on that date. Their visits, he said, "were pleasant opportunities to meet not only the noble Bulgarian nation but also the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria ... in the person of the Bishops who represented you. Today the Lord enables us to meet personally and to exchange 'the kiss of peace'."

"I come among you," he affirmed, "with a sense of esteem for the mission which the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria is undertaking, and I wish to express my respect and appreciation for your commitment to the good of the people of this land."

After praising the Bulgarian Orthodox Church's perseverance in proclaiming the Gospel for centuries, despite historical events that were "complex and at times hostile," John Paul II underlined that his visit, the first of a bishop of Rome to this country, was a reason for joy because "it is a sign of a gradual growth in ecclesial communion. Yet this cannot distract us from sincerely recognizing that Christ our Lord founded a single Church, while we today appear to the world divided, as if Christ Himself were divided." The Pope emphasized that this division was a scandal for the world and damaged "the preaching of the Gospel."

"One thing, however, consoles us," affirmed the Holy Father, "the estrangement between Catholics and Orthodox has never extinguished in them the desire to restore full ecclesial communion. ... Today we can give thanks to God that the bonds between us have been much strengthened." He recalled that Vatican Council II underlined that "the Orthodox Churches 'possess true sacraments, above all - by apostolic succession - the Priesthood and the Eucharist,'" recognizing also that "far from being an obstacle to the Church's unity, ... the diversity of customs and observances only adds to her beauty."

The Pope cited as an example of unity Saints Cyril and Methodius, whose "witness is relevant even to those who, in the field of politics, are working to bring about European unification. ... The whole of Europe, both West and East, expects Catholics and Orthodox to work together for the defense of peace and justice, human rights and the culture of life." John Paul II affirmed that the example of Cyril and Methodius was "emblematic for the unity of Christians in the one Church of Christ," and recalled that when the patriarch of Constantinople sent them to preach the true faith to enslaved peoples in their own language "in the face of obstacles placed on that path by the neighboring Western dioceses which claimed that it was their responsibility to bring the Cross of Christ to the Slav countries, they came to the Pope in order to have their mission confirmed."

At the end of his speech, the Pope offered the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Rome, "with a view to increasing our knowledge of each other, our mutual charity and our fraternal cooperation," the liturgical use of the Church of Saints Vincent and Anastasius at the Trevi Fountain. The Pope also gave the Bulgarian Orthodox Church a relic of St. Dasius, a soldier from Silistra, martyred in the fourth century in Rome, whose remains are preserved in the Italian archdiocese of Ancona-Osimo.

When the meeting was over, the Pope went to the apostolic nunciature to have lunch with the Catholic bishops of the country.

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Thomas Matthew Burns, S.M., vicar general of the Military Ordinariate for Great Britain, as military ordinary for the same country. The bishop-elect was born in 1944 in Belfast, Ireland and was ordained a priest in 1971. The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the office of military ordinary for Great Britain, presented by Bishop Francis Joseph Walmsley, upon having reached the age limit.

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Milwaukee, U.S.A., presented by Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, O.S.B., upon having reached the age limit.

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THIRD CENTENARY OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2002 (VIS) - Made public today was a message from the Pope to Fr. Pierre Schouver, superior general of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, on the occasion of the celebration, next year, of the third centennial of the order, founded on May 27, 1703 by 24-year old deacon Claude-Francois Poullart des Piaces. In 1848, Fr. Francois Libermann became the second founder, uniting this congregation to that of the Sacred Heart of Mary which he founded in 1841.

In the message, dated May 20, the Holy Father gives thanks to God for the work done by the congregation during these three centuries, "notably in the evangelization of Africa, the Antilles and South America." And he invites them "to remain faithful to the dual heritage of your founders: care of the poor ... and missionary service."

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