But last month the Bulgarian Orthodox Churchs Holy Synod rejected the idea of Orthodox priests participating in a joint “prayer for peace” with the pope in a Sofia square which had been planned for Monday. Relations between Rome and other Orthodox churches have been warming, with February 2016 seeing the historic meeting between Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in Cuba.Prime Minister Boyko Borisov met Francis at the airport, with the government welcoming how the visit has put the former communist country, which joined the EU in 2007, and the Balkans in the international spotlight. The meeting was sharply criticised by conservative Russian nationalists – the same tendency that has acted as a brake on any moves by Bulgarias Patriarch Neophyte towards greater openness.Borisov has welcomed Francis visit, saying it “reflects his interest in the peaceful economic development of the Balkans”.Francis, whose papacy has been marred by a wave of child sex abuse allegations against clergy, has made improving interfaith dialogue a priority.
The three-day tour, which also takes in North Macedonia, includes a visit to a refugee camp on the outskirts of Sofia and a commemoration of Mother Teresa, the most famous native of the Macedonian capital Skopje.While the visit will be a particular highlight for the tiny Catholic communities in both countries, 44,000 in Bulgaria and 20,000 in North Macedonia, it is the interaction with their two Orthodox Churches that will be most keenly watched.That was the first such encounter since the schism nearly 1,000 years ago that tore Christianity in two..Bulgaria: Pope Francis arrived in Bulgaria on Sunday, where he will meet members of the tiny Catholic community, but the main Orthodox Church has rejected the idea of holding joint prayers with the pontiff. It will also provide a welcome change for Borisovs administration which has seen several senior members mired in real estate scandals in recent weeks.Bulgaria is the only Orthodox Church not to participate in a commission fostering dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church.The Bulgarian Church also made clear its opposition to any religious service when the pope visits Sofias St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on Sunday, after he meets with Borisov and President Rumen Radev. “Im an Orthodox Christian, but I admire wholesale truck air dryer the popes openness and sensitivity.The Orthodox Church is instead sending a childrens choir to the downgraded meeting which will be attended by at least one of Sofias Muslim leaders, a Vatican source said. Why stay attached to medieval dogmas? There is only one God,” said Dora Kraytcheva, 48, ahead of the popes arrival
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