Grand Mufti Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi took part in a prayer for peace during the visit of the Pope Francis to Sofia

More than 200 official guests and thousands of citizens gathered the official visit of Pope Francis to Sofia on May 6 (Monday) this year. Then was the closing event of the visit of the Pope to our country entitled “Pacem in terris", which coincided with the first day of the holy for the Muslims month of Ramadan. It took place at “Nezavisimost” square and was called “An Event for Peace”.

Together with the official guest from Rome was also the Grand Mufti of the Republic of Bulgaria Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi as an official representative of the Muslim faith in our country. There were also representatives of the Jewish, Armenian, Protestant and Catholic communities in Bulgaria.

Among the participants was also the Deputy Grand Mufti Birali Myumyn Birali who is also a Chairman of the National Council of the Religious Communities in Bulgaria (NCRCB).

“We can see from here the places for worship of the various churches and religious denominations: “St. Nedelya” of our Orthodox brothers, “St. Joseph” of us, the Catholics, the synagogue of our elder brothers, the Jews; the mosque of our Muslim brothers, and nearby the church of the Armenians.” – said as a part of his official speech at “Nezavisimost square” Pope Francis during the “Event on peace”.

According to the prepared program the event had to be attended by representatives of the various religious groups, and everyone to perform in his language and according to his religious prescriptions a prayer for peace. The Muslim Denomination was presented on the stage with a performance of the Islamic call to prayer (adhan).

In the program on the stage also participated six children with flaming torches, who represented the six major religions in our country including the Muslim.

The official ceremony on the closing event of the visit of the Pope to Bulgaria ended with release of doves in the sky – symbols of peace and love.

During his visit to Sofia Pope Francis had the opportunity to visit with his popemobile also the religious temples of all major religions in Bulgaria.

On Tuesday morning the Head of the Roman Catholic Church departed to North Macedonia where he continued his apostolic mission entitled “Pacem in terris" (Peace on Earth)

Author: L. Chausheva