Pope Francis has arrived in Bulgaria, starting a three-day Balkans trip in which he is expected to make overtures towards Orthodox Christians and honour Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
During a meeting with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, Francis called on Bulgaria to open its arms to well-meaning migrants.
"Allow me to suggest that your eyes, heart and hand, as is your tradition, are not closed to those who knock on your doors," he said.
Pope Francis arrives to celebrate Holy Mass on Knyaz Alexander I Square in Sofia, Bulgaria Source: ANSA
Bulgaria - which has erected a wire fence along its exterior EU border to hinder migrants - is in the position to encourage interactions between various cultures and religions, said Francis.
The Pope pointed to the more than 2 million Bulgarians who had emigrated to other countries seeking better life opportunities.
Later Sunday, Francis is scheduled to meet the leader of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Neophyte, and pray at the Orthodox Cathedral. However, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has ruled out interfaith prayers or services with Francis.
On Monday, the Pope is due to visit a refugee camp and travel to Rakovski, about 160km southeast of Sofia, for Mass and a First Communion service for more than 200 children, before returning to the capital to take part in interfaith peace prayers.
Pope Francis's decree aims to tackle the widespread problems over sex abuse in the church. Source: EPA
On Tuesday he is set to continue his trip to North Macedonia, which will include a visit to a shrine to Mother Teresa, who was born in the city in 1910, and meetings with poor people looked after by Teresa's Missionaries of Charity nuns.
Pope Francis elevated Mother Teresa to sainthood in 2016.
Bulgaria and North Macedonia, located in the Balkans, are among Europe's poorest nations, and have tiny Catholic communities.
Francis is the second pope to visit Bulgaria after John Paul II in 2002, while a papal visit is a novelty for North Macedonia.
Francis will arrive in Skopje two days after a national presidential election run-off.
