Sofia, May 20 (BTA)

Foreign Minister Solomon Passy called on Bulgarian Patriarch Maksim May 20 to ask for his blessing for the Government's patriotic initiatives and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Sofia over the weekend, Passy himself told reporters, emerging from the meeting, adding that Patriarch Maksim blesses Bulgaria's foreign policy by tradition.

Passy familiarized the Patriarch with the visit of the Bulgarian delegation to Rome and the Vatican earlier this month for the traditional celebrations of the Day of Bulgarian Education and Culture and Slav Letters.

"I hope that the Pope's visit will leave the Bulgarian Church still more united and strong and this is something the Government supports. I hope the visit will make believers stronger believers and non-believers more God-abiding," the Foreign Minister added.

Patriarch Maksim reiterated the Holy Synod's stand that it will welcome the Pontiff as it does all its distinguished guests. He added that it has not been planned for the Pope to attend the service at the St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on the occasion of the Day of Bulgarian Education and Culture and Slav Letters at 9 a.m. on May 24, as the Pope is scheduled to proceed to the Cathedral after 10 o'clock.