site.btaBulgarian Academy of Sciences Hosts Anniversary Scientific Conference on Angelo Roncalli’s Apostolic Mission to Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) organized an anniversary scientific conference titled "Monsignor Roncalli and His Apostolic Mission to Bulgaria (1925–1934)", held in the Prof. Marin Drinov Hall, BAS said on Tuesday.

The event marked the 100th anniversary of Archbishop Angelo Roncalli’s arrival in Bulgaria, the future Pope John XXIII. The conference was opened by BAS President, Corresponding Member Evelina Slavcheva, who emphasized the importance of the forum in honouring one of the most prominent religious leaders of the 20th century.

Greetings to the organizers, participants, and guests of the conference were sent on behalf of President Rumen Radev and Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov. Additional addresses were delivered by the Apostolic Nuncio to Bulgaria and North Macedonia, Monsignor Luciano Suriani, and by Bishop Petko Valov, President of the Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church in Bulgaria, BAS said.

At the forum, Associate Professor Kiril Kartalov from the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at BAS, who is also affiliated with the Catholic University of Milan and is a Corresponding Member of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences—presented his book The Quest for Peace. Celebrating Pacem in Terris and its legacy, sixty years later.

According to the Academy, the book is the result of an international scientific conference hosted by BAS in June 2023, dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the publication of the encyclical Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth). The encyclical was published for the first time in Bulgarian, translated by Associate Professor Kiril Kartalov and released by the Prof. Marin Drinov Publishing House of BAS.