Apostolic Nunciature to Bulgaria explained

Apostolic Nunciature to Bulgaria
Coordinates:	42.6986°N 23.3195°W

The Apostolic Nunciature to Bulgaria is the diplomatic mission of the Holy See to Bulgaria. It is located in Sofia. The current Apostolic Nuncio is Archbishop Luciano Suriani, who was named to the position by Pope Francis on 13 May 2022.

The Apostolic Nunciature to the Republic of Bulgaria is an ecclesiastical office of the Catholic Church in Bulgaria, with the rank of an embassy. The nuncio serves both as the ambassador of the Holy See to the President of Bulgaria, and as delegate and point-of-contact between the Catholic hierarchy in Bulgaria and the Pope.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Bulgaria is usually also the Apostolic Nuncio to North Macedonia upon his appointment to said nation.

Papal representatives to Bulgaria

Apostolic Delegates

• Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli (16 October 1931 - 30 November 1934)
• Giuseppe Mazzoli (15 December 1934 - 8 December 1945)
  • Following Mazzoli's death, the delegation was led briefly by an experienced lesser official of the delegation who was not allowed to return from a trip outside Bulgaria.^[1]

Apostolic Nuncios

• Mario Rizzi (28 February 1991 - 1996)
• Blasco Francisco Collaço (13 April 1996 - 24 May 2000)
• Antonio Mennini (8 July 2000 - 6 November 2002)^[2]
• Giuseppe Leanza (22 February 2003 - 22 February 2008)^[3]
• Januariusz Mikołaj Bolonek (24 May 2008 - 6 December 2013)^[4]
• Anselmo Guido Pecorari (25 April 2014^[5] – 31 December 2021)^[6]
• Luciano Suriani (13 May 2022 – present)

Notes and References

1. Diplomatic Missions of the Holy See in Hungary and East-Central Europe after the Second World War . Margit . Balogh . 102 . Central European Papers . 1 November 2014.
2. Holy See Press Office . 8 July 2000. Rinunce e Nomine, 08.07.2000. it . 15 April 2019 .
3. Holy See Press Office . 22 February 2003. Rinunce e Nomine, 22.02.2003. it . 15 April 2019 .
4. Holy See Press Office . 24 May 2008. Rinunce e Nomine, 24.05.2008 . it . 15 April 2019 .
5. Holy See Press Office . 25 April 2014. Rinunce e Nomine, 25.04.2014 . it . 15 April 2019 .
6. 31 December 2021 . 31 December 2021 . Holy See Press Office . it . Rinunce e nomine, 31.12.2021 .