6 years ago, the late Pope Francis visited Rakovski - the city with the largest Catholic community in our country. People there have warm memories of their meeting with the Holy Father. His funeral ceremony can be followed live on a huge screen installed in the church "St. Archangel Michael", NOVA reported.
Ivan Donev, who keeps the memory of Pope Francis, came to the city in 2019. "The memory of the Pope is really very warm. I was excited not because I saw him, but because he came to my hometown," recalls the man, who also lived in Italy for many years.
According to him, the Holy Father was a reformer who made the Catholic Church appear in a new light to the world.
Maria Chepisheva from "Caritas" told about the special candle made on the occasion of Francis' visit to Rakovski, which can be seen in the church. "The candle was made in a social enterprise "Caritas Workshop" by people from vulnerable groups. I remember that at that time they were very excited about making it. It was a challenge for them and for all of us," she said.
Father Nedyalko from the church "St. Archangel Michael" in Rakovski stated that the day we say goodbye to Pope Francis is the day "on which we remember the presence of a shepherd between his shepherd and the day on which we say goodbye to him". According to him, the Holy Father left a message of hope behind him with his appearance on Easter - just a day before he passed away.
Many believers also gathered at the Catholic Cathedral "St. Joseph" to pray for the soul of the Holy Father and light a candle in his memory.