Bulgarian President to Attend New Pope's Inauguration

Bulgarian President, Rosen Plevneliev, and leaders from around the world will greet the Head of the Roman Catholic Church on Tuesday. Photo by BGNES

Bulgarian President, Rosen Plevneliev, will attend the mass for the official inauguration of Pope Francis, the Head of State's press office informed.

The event will be held Tuesday morning on "St. Peter" square in the Vatican, Rome.

Plevneliev and leaders from around the world will greet the Head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Top-level delegations from 180 countries will attend the enthronement. The ceremony is to be joined by Royals from Britain, Spain and Belgium.

The US will be represented by Vice President Joe Biden, Argentina - by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Brazil - by President with Bulgarian roots Dilma Rousseff.

The election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio surprised many observers when it was revealed on Wednesday.

Although, during the 2005 conclave, he reportedly came second to Pope Benedict XVI, who withdrew from the post earlier, few had predicted the election of the first pope from outside Europe in 1 300 years.

Francis, 76, is the first Latin American - and the first Jesuit - Pope. He already gave firm signs he is to stamp his style on the papacy in applauding media and informing the Catholic Church would become "a compassionate NGO" without spiritual renewal.

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