On the occasion of the passing of the Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte, the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in Bulgaria has sent a message of condolences to the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church signed by its President Mgr Christo Proykov. The message highlights “the immense sadness with which we learned of the passing of our beloved brother in Christ, the Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Neophyte, who has served the Bulgarian Church and people with great zeal”. The Catholic Bishops recall “the sincere, fraternal affection of His Holiness, expressed towards the Catholic Church and the Bulgarian Catholic community on several occasions. “The Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in Bulgaria – the message goes on to say – extends its condolences to the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the clergy and the faithful, asking God to grant peace to his soul”. “May the good and merciful Lord welcome the late Patriarch Neophyte into heaven, granting him eternal light, peace and serenity! Eternal memory to the late Patriarch Neophyte”.