"I'm extremely excited to thank you on behalf of the Bulgarian people for everything that you did for Bulgaria," Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Passy said during the official ceremony that marked the departure of Pope John Paul II from Bulgaria. "As our prime minister said with your visit began the new Bulgarian Easter," Passy added. The Pope said in Italian that he hoped that his visit would be a good sign for Bulgaria. The Holy Father again thanked God for the opportunity to visit Bulgaria and said that he loved that country. “Let God bless Bulgaria,” the Pope said upon leaving. Foreign Minister Passy presented as a gift on behalf of the Bulgarian government a bottle of wine the Pope, wishing him to celebrate Easter in 2003.