On the occasion of the national holiday of the Holy See and the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Bulgaria,

His Eminence Monsignor Luciano Suriani, hosted a reception at the Vivacom Art Hall Oborishte 5 on June 28. The event was attended by representatives of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, ambassadors, diplomats, cultural figures, and journalists. Naturally, the important event also brought together many representatives of the Catholic Church, as well as people of the Catholic faith living in Bulgaria.

The head of the Holy See's embassy, His Excellency Monsignor Luciano Suriani, informed those present about some of the priorities of papal diplomacy over the past year:

"The Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul typically marks the day on which the Apostolic Nunciature celebrates its annual feast, commonly referred to as the "Feast of the Pope (or Pope’s Day)". I would like to seize this opportunity to present several aspects of the Holy Father’s recent activity, which highlight some of the key priorities of papal diplomacy.

In January, during an audience with the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, Pope Francis emphasized the theme of peace: "Peace is primarily a gift of God, for it is he who has left us His peace (cf. Jn 14:27). Yet it is also a responsibility incumbent upon all of us: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ (Mt 5:9). To strive for peace. A word so simple, yet so demanding and rich in meaning". Furthermore, he reaffirmed that "it is the responsibility of the Holy See within the international community to be a prophetic voice and to appeal to consciences". Indeed, the Pope’s appeals have been numerous and consistent, urging all to dedicate themselves to peace-building, to seek new solutions that can put an end to the ongoing conflicts and to engage in a constructive and serious dialogue because "dialogue must be the soul of the international community".

The path to peace necessarily involves acceptance, and respect of life and human dignity, the fight against poverty and the exploitation of our “common home”, the creation, as well as the protection of religious freedom and attention to minorities. The Apostolic Journey to Mongolia, along with the steps taken in the relations between the Holy See and Vietnam, exemplify this commitment. Every Country should serve as a "laboratory of peace, a place where different countries and realities can encounter each other on the basis of the humanity we all share", as the Pope emphasized during the Rencontres Méditerranéennes in Marseille, addressing the immigration crisis.

Regarding his visit to Portugal for World Youth Day, the Holy Father highlighted that "the path to peace passes through education, which is the principal means of investing in the future and in young people. It was an encounter with more than a million young people from all over the world, brimming with enthusiasm and zest for life. Their presence was a great hymn to peace and a testimony to the fact that unity is greater than conflict and that it is possible to build communion amid disagreement".

The Universal Church is currently in the process of preparing for the Holy Year, which will commence on the eve of Christmas. In today's world, the need for a Jubilee Year seems more urgent than ever. "In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the Jubilee is a season of grace that enables us to experience God’s mercy and the gift of his peace. It is also a season of righteousness, in which sins are forgiven, reconciliation prevails over injustice, and the earth can be at rest. For everyone – Christians and non-Christians – the Jubilee can be a time when swords are beaten into ploughshares, a time when one nation will no longer lift up sword against another, nor learn war any more (cf. Is 2:4)".

As is tradition, on the following day, June 29, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, His Excellency Monsignor Luciano Suriani, together with the bishops of Bulgaria, celebrated a Holy Mass in the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Sofia. During the Mass, special prayers were offered for Pope Francis, for peace in the world, and for the needs of our country.

The photos were provided by the Embassy of the Holy See in the Republic of Bulgaria.