The Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox church Maxim and Pope John Paul II agreed that the dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox church should be the main goal of all Christians. Patriarch Maxim welcomed Pope John Paul II to Bulgaria at the Holy Synod at the first ever meeting between a Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and a Roman Pontiff. In his speech the Patriarch underlined that the Bulgarian people remained true to the mission of Sts Cyril and Methodius, which is the strength of May 24 celebrations. Patriarch Maxim also expressed gratitude that Bulgaria’s envoys have the opportunity to pay tribute at the tomb of St Cyril. He noted that the true-believing Bulgarian people was born in the bosom of the Christian faith and has used it to regenerate spiritually and survive through the ages. Being aware of our obligations we make continuous efforts for preserving the values of the human culture and civilization, peace and the good will in the world, Patriarch Maxim said. As a token of willingness to deepen the contacts between the Catholic Church and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the Pope offered the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Rome for their worship the use of the Church of Sts Vincent and Anastasius at the Trevi Fountain and presented, as a gift to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, a famous relic of St Dasius. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church presented to the Pope an icon of Prince Boris I Christianizer of the Bulgarian People. A lot of people had gathered in front of the building of the synod to greet the Pope with flowers and appeals for union.