SOFIA, May 24, 02 (CWNews.com) - During a courtesy visit with Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov on Friday morning, Pope John Paul II stressed that he never blamed Bulgaria for the 1981 attempt on his life.
After a brief conversation at the presidential palace, the Pope and the Bulgarian leader issued a joint public statement expressing mutual respect and shared goals of fostering international harmony and development. The statement said: «President Parvanov pointed out the esteem of the Bulgarian people for the Holy Father, which excludes Bulgaria's involvement in the assassination attempt on his life.»
As this line was read to reporters during a press conference in Sofia, papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls interrupted with an additional note of clarification: «'I would like to add that the Pope has told the President that he had never believed in the so-called 'Bulgarian connection' which blamed a people whom he fondly likes and admires.»
Although Pope John Paul had already remarked, in his first public remarks on Bulgarian soil, that he had always loved the people of that country, some journalists had pressed for a more explicit statement absolving Bulgaria for any guilt in the May 1981 assassination attempt by Mehmet Ali Agca. The joint statement, and the extemporaneous remark by Navarro-Valls, provided a clear answer to that request.
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24. mai 2002