Catholics from Rakovsky Leave for the Vatican

Priests of the Catholic cathedral in Rakovski town, the biggest on the Balkan peninsular, prayed for His Holiness Pope John Paul II
Photo BGNES

The whole town of Rakosky is ready to leave for the Vatican to attend the Pope's funeral, reported Franz Kokov, mayor of the largest Catholic-populated municipality in Bulgaria. Some of the most piteous have already left for Rome to join in praying the multitude on the St Peter's Square. The rest of the people hope that transport to Italy for the funeral will be organized by St Louis of the French Cathedral in Plovdiv. The whole day yesterday the cathedral in Rakovsky, which is the largest Catholic one on the Balkans was sounded with chants. Thousands of worshippers thronged to the altar to pray for His Holiness. There has not been such a pope like John Paul II, says all in tears Christiana - Maria (26) who has brought to the church her 2-year-old daughter along with her. Pavel (10) said how much he was impressed with the popemobile at the Pope's visit to Bulgaria. The boy went with his parent at the Sunday mass that the Pope served on May 26, 2002 on the square in Plovdiv. People pray that the next pope will be something like John Paul II, explains Rakovsky mayor Franz Kokov, who says there has not been any pope so far, so much loved by the people. The Catholics from Kaloyanovo and Zhitnitsa prayed that the next head of the Catholic Church would be a Slav. Since Friday evening the vigils for the Pope has been performed by young men Catholics from the municipality in the Sts Peter and Paul parish in the district of Miromir in the town of Hissar. John Paul II is the favourite pope of young and old, this is why the young man from the parish are so ardent to take part in praying, explains Father Dimitar Dimitrov who has organized the vigils. He reminds that not long ago His Holiness sent to Hissar parish a letter appealing to unity and inviting to keep the faith in the good. The fathers in St Louis Cathedral in Plovdiv also keep on serving large masses to the glory of the Holy Father. In the so-called Holy Rosary, all Catholics from Plovdiv prayed for John Paul II. Every human life ends in one way or another, but our wish is that our prayers would accompany the Pope in his last days here on earth, in his last days of a life devoted to God, devoted to the humankind, said Monsignor Gheorghi Jovchev, Bishop of Plovdiv and Sofia.

Eli Kumanova
from STANDART (Bulgarian Internet Daily)