Affirm Europe's Christian heritage, Pope asks leaders of Bulgaria, Macedonia

May 24, 2010

On Saturday, May 22, Pope Benedict XVI met with Prime Minister Boiko Borissov of Bulgaria and President Trajko Veljanoski of Macedonia in separate private audiences. Both were in Rome for celebrations of the feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius.

In his remarks to each of the two leaders, the Pope emphasized the Christian heritage of the European countries: the product of their evangelization by Sts. Cyril and Methodius. "As Christians," the Pontiff said, "we have the duty to reinforce the intrinsic bond that exists between the Gospel and our respective cultural identities."

On May 24 the Pope met with Mihai Ghimpu, the acting president of Moldova, for a conversation that involved Church-state relations and international affairs.

 

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Further information:

• Reinforce the Bond between Gospel and Cultural Identity (VIS)