Pope Francis was above all an exceptional person, an exceptional cleric, an exceptional preacher. He preached peace, justice, equality and brotherhood among people. He stood up for the wronged, for the poor, for children, for women. He wanted the Church to be among the people, to preach for the people, for all the problems that humanity is currently experiencing. He stood up for the pain of the day. This was stated by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov after the end of the mourning ceremony for the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican, which was attended by leaders from all over the world.
Prime Minister Zhelyazkov recalled Pope Francis' prayer for peace during his visit to Sofia in 2019. He also highlighted his qualities as a statesman and diplomat. He will remain in the hearts and minds of people with his kind disposition and his work, Zhelyazkov added. The Prime Minister also recalled that Pope Francis was an exceptional friend of Bulgaria. "It is no coincidence that during the mass you heard that all Saints Cyril and Methodius were praying for him," added Zhelyazkov.
Pope Francis tried to break the ice and make religions speak "in one language," emphasized Father Ivan Ivanov, church administrator of the Bulgarian Orthodox communities in Italy and Malta and chairman of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church "Saints Seventeen" in Rome. He also recalled Pope Francis' visit to Bulgaria and his respect for religious peace in our country.