杏MAP导航 at Audience: memories of trip to Bulgaria and North Macedonia
By Vatican News
杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� reflections at this Wednesday鈥檚 General Audience were really a synthesis of his recent Apostolic journey to Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
Bulgaria and Saint John XXIII
The 杏MAP导航 began by saying how, in Bulgaria, he was 鈥済uided by the living memory of Saint John XXIII鈥�, who spent nearly ten years in the country as Apostolic Delegate. The motto chosen for the Bulgaria leg of the trip was the title of 杏MAP导航 John XXIII鈥檚 encyclical, "Pacem in Terris". Inspired by this motto, 杏MAP导航 Francis said he had 鈥渋nvited everyone to walk on the path of brotherhood鈥�, and mentioned his meeting with the Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and Members of the Holy Synod. 鈥淎s Christians, our vocation and mission is to be a sign and instrument of unity鈥�, he said.
Bulgaria and Saints Cyril and Methodius
The 杏MAP导航 also mentioned the Saintly Brothers Cyril and Methodius, evangelizers of Bulgaria. They were of Greek origin, but they used 鈥渢heir culture creatively to transmit the Christian message to the Slav peoples鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis. 鈥淓ven today there is a need for passionate and creative evangelizers鈥�, he added, 鈥渟o that the Gospel may reach those who do not yet know it and may irrigate again the lands where ancient Christian roots have dried up鈥�.
North Macedonia and Saint Mother Teresa
The second stop on the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 three-day Apostolic journey was to North Macedonia. There he said 鈥渢he strong spiritual presence of Mother Teresa of Calcutta鈥� accompanied him. Mother Teresa was born in Skopje, the present-day capital of North Macedonia, in 1910. In this small but strong woman 鈥渨e see the image of the Church in that country鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, noting that he had prayed at Mother Teresa's Memorial, and blessed the first stone of a shrine dedicated to her.
North Macedonia and the young
杏MAP导航 Francis explained how, with this visit, his intention was to encourage what he called North Macedonia鈥檚 鈥渢raditional capacity to host different ethnic and religious affiliations鈥�, as well as the country鈥檚 鈥渃ommitment to welcoming and helping a large number of migrants and refugees鈥�.
This is a 鈥測oung country from an institutional point of view鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航. Which is why his meeting with young people was so significant. 杏MAP导航 Francis said he invited them 鈥渢o dream big and get involved鈥�, just like the future Mother Teresa, 鈥渓istening to the voice of God鈥�, who speaks to us in prayer, and responding concretely to 鈥渙ur needy brothers and sisters鈥�.
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