On June 30, His Excellency Monsignor Luciano Suriani, Apostolic Nuncio and Head of the Embassy of the Holy See in Bulgaria,
hosted a reception at Vivacom Art Hall Oborishte 5 on the occasion of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Attending the event were representatives of the Catholic Church, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the Muslim denomination in Bulgaria, Protestants, government officials, ambassadors, diplomats, cultural figures, and journalists.
His Excellency Monsignor Luciano Suriani welcomed his guests with a "Welcome" and thanked them for honoring the celebration. Prior to the event, all attendees had received summarized information from the embassy about the Jubilee Holy Year under the theme – Pilgrims of Hope:
This year's celebration of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul is marked by the memory of the late Pope Francis and, at the same time, by the election of Pope Leo XIV. This year, 2025, is special for the Catholic Church, because it is also a Jubilee Year, a Holy Year, with the theme: Pilgrims of Hope.
Shortly after the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, in the Vatican, on Christmas Eve 2024, Pope Francis, speaking to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, in January, described the Holy Year as follows: "The very meaning of the Jubilee is that of ‘taking a break’ from the frenzied pace that increasingly characterizes daily life, in order to be refreshed and nourished by what is truly essential. In a word, to rediscover ourselves as children of God and, in Him, as brothers and sisters, to pardon offences, to support the weak and the poor, to give rest to the earth, to practice justice, and to recover hope." Despite his fragile health, Pope Francis continued to proclaim this message of hope until the end, stating on Easter Sunday: "I would like us to renew our hope that peace is possible!" Blessing, he prayed and pleaded for the return of peace to the many nations afflicted by the scourge of war and violence.
Recalling "the faint yet ever courageous voice" of his Predecessor, on May 8th, Pope Leo XIV began his Pontificate with a strong appeal for peace: "I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world. Peace be with you! It is the peace of the risen Christ. A peace that is disarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us all, unconditionally." The new Pontiff, in his meeting with the Diplomatic Corps shortly after his election, also mentioned the significance of this Jubilee Year: "My ministry begins in the heart of a Jubilee Year, devoted in a particular way to hope. It is a time of conversion and renewal and, above all, an opportunity to leave conflicts behind and embark on a new path, animated by the hope that, by working together, each according to their own sensibilities and responsibilities, we can build a world in which everyone can lead an authentically human life in truth, justice, and peace."
The Holy See, in this Jubilee of Hope, continues to renew its commitment to promoting a culture of dialogue and of encounter, in justice and truth, so that all members of the human family may live together in peace. Pope Leo XIV affirmed this during the celebration marking the beginning of his Pontificate: "In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of the different, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalizes the poorest. And we want to be, within this dough, a small leaven of unity, communion, and fraternity."
On the occasion of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, a Holy Mass was celebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio together with the Bishops of Bulgaria on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Sofia. During the Mass, special prayers were offered for Pope Leo XIV, for peace in the world, and for the needs of the country.
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Photos: Embassy of the Holy See in the Republic of Bulgaria. Above: His Excellency Monsignor Luciano Suriani, Apostolic Nuncio and Head of the Embassy
