site.btaVatican's Secretary of State Parolin Consecrates Catholic Church in Sofia, Meets with Parliament Chair

Vatican's Secretary of State Parolin Consecrates Catholic Church in Sofia, Meets with Parliament Chair

Sofia, March 20 (BTA) - The Vatican's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who is paying a visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of the Government and the Catholic Church in Bulgaria, consecrated the Assumption of the Virgin Mary church of the Catholic Apostolic Exarchate in Sofia on Sunday.

Addressing the people in the church, Cardinal Parolin cabled Pope Francis' greetings and noted that he is following with interest the life of the small Catholic community in Bulgaria. He called on the believers to keep their hearts open to their brothers from other religious denominations. Cardinal Parolin thanked National Assembly Chair Tsetska Tsacheva, Vice President Margarita Popova, Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva and the other official guests for attending the ceremony.

Speaking with Cardinal Parolin after the ceremony, Tsacheva said that Bulgaria evaluates highly everything that the Holy See does for overcoming poverty and injustice in the world, and shares these goals, Parliament's press centre reported. The National Assembly Chair noted she will head a Bulgarian delegation to the Vatican City in relation to May 24, the Day of Bulgarian Education and Culture and Slav Letters, when Bulgarians pay tribute to the work of Sts Cyril and Methodius.

Sunday's programme of Cardinal Parolin's visit also includes a visit the monastery of the Sisters of the Holy Spirit monastic community in Sofia. In the evening, he will serve a holy mass at the St Joseph cathedral in the Bulgarian capital.

On Monday, Cardinal Parolin is scheduled to confer with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, President Rosen Plevneliev, Patriarch Neophyte and the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and Chief Mufti Mustafa Hadji.