Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov will visit the Vatican and Rome on the eve of May 24 - the Day of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, of the Bulgarian Alphabet, Education and Culture and of Slavic Literature, the government press service reported, quoted by BTA. Zhelyazkov heads the official Bulgarian delegation, which will pay tribute to the holy places associated with the work of the first teachers, today and tomorrow.
In Rome, Prime Minister Zhelyazkov will lay wreaths at the bust-monument of Captain Petko Voivode and the monument to Ivan Vazov. He will meet with the Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni.
Later, the Prime Minister will lay a wreath at the monument to the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius in the courtyard of the Bulgarian Embassy in Rome, where an official reception on the occasion of May 24 will also take place.
On May 23, Rosen Zhelyazkov will be received in an audience by Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace, and then he will meet with the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Zhelyazkov will attend the solemn liturgy in the Basilica of “San Clemente“ and will venerate the relics and tomb of St. Constantine-Cyril the Philosopher. The service will be led by the Western and Central European Metropolitan Anthony in conjunction with priests from the European Diocese of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church – Bulgarian Patriarchate.
The Prime Minister will also visit the Basilica of “Santa Maria Maggiore“, where he will lay a wreath and bow before the memorial plaque of the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius.
During the visit, the Prime Minister will meet with the Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Order of Malta – Riccardo Paterno di Montecupo.
The official delegation includes the Minister of Culture Marian Bachev, the Deputy Minister of Education and Science Tanya Mihaylova, Metropolitan Anthony and the Bishop of the Sofia Catholic Diocese Petko Valov.
In 2024, the delegation that visited Rome and the Vatican on the occasion of May 24 was led by President Rumen Radev. The head of state was received in audience by the now deceased Pope Francis.