Bulgaria is stepping out of its comfort zone, said Bogdan Patashev, Bulgaria ’s former ambassador to the Vatican (2019–2023), in an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio. Reflecting on the influence of Pope Francis, Patashev emphasized that the pontiff helped draw global attention to Bulgaria , partly due to personal memories such as his grandmother feeding him Bulgarian yogurt. Pope Francis, he said, chose to visit Bulgaria as a symbol of peace and viewed the country as a peaceful