Pope John XXIII

Pope Francis has elevated the Bulgarian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Sofia Diocese into Eparchy in Bulgaria assigning it the name of "Eparchy of Saint John XXIII of Sofia for Catholics of Byzantine-Slavic rite in Bulgaria".

Bulgarian Ambassador to the Vatican, Bogdan Patashev, today presented his credentials to Pope Francis, the Foreign Ministry said.

Pope Francis's apostolic journey to Bulgaria continues today. The head of the Roman Catholic Church arrived yesterday in Bulgaria, under the motto "Peace to the Earth" - the title of the encyclical, written in 1963 by Pope John XXIII, also known as the "Bulgarian Pope," Archbishop Angelo Roncalli.

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borissov will meet His Holiness Pope Francis at Sofia Airport on May 5th. The Holy Father arrives in Bulgaria on an apostolic journey that will last until May 7, when he will visit Sofia and the town of Rakovsky, the government press office announced on 3rd of May, reports BNT. 

His Holiness Pope Francis has sent his greetings to the Bulgarian people two days before his visit to the country, the government press officesaid.

From 5th to 7th May, an important and historical event will take place here - the visit of Pope Francis in Bulgaria, who was elected six years ago as a Roman pope.

Pope Francis is set to become the fourth Pope to visit Turkey, after the Vatican published details of an upcoming three-day visit to Ankara and Istanbul.

The liturgical feasts of Saints Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II are to be observed on October 11 and October 22, respectively.

L'Osservatore Romano, the daily newspaper of Vatican City State, has published the decree signed by Cardinal Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera which makes the feast days official.

Pope Francis on Sunday proclaimed as saints Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII in an unprecedented ceremony in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City.

A Mass co-celebrated by Pope Francis and his predecessor Benedict was watched by roughly one million pilgrims at the Vatican, while millions more watched on television around the world.

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev will attend the canonization ceremony of blessed John XXIII and John Paul II in Vatican City on April 27.

The canonization ceremony in St. Peter's Square will be held on the day on which the Roman Catholic Church marks Divine Mercy Day, according to the press office of the Bulgarian President.