Pope meets Macedonian prime minister, Bulgarian president

(May 24, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday received the Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski of Madedonia and President Rosen Plevneliev of Bulgaria, who are heading delegations from their respective countries in a traditional visit to Rome on the occasion of the feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodious. The two saints, known as the apostles of the Slav people, are patrons of the Orthodox Church. The feast of the two 9th century brothers from Thessaloniki, is observed on May 24, according to the Eastern Orthodox tradition. In 1980, Blessed John Paul II declared the two saints co-patrons of Europe, together with Saint Benedict. Pope Benedict XVI privately met Gurevski and Plevneliev in separate meetings without any interpreters. The Pontiff then met the delegations and exchanged gifts. The two leaders later met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.