Foreign Minister Passy opened at 4 pm today a unique studio with live coverage of the Papal visit at www.popeinbulgaria.com. Just an hour and a half before he was scheduled to meet the Pope at Sofia airport, he said the Papal visit will open three doors for Bulgaria, mainly Bulgaria's top priorities - NATO entry and the Prague summit, acceleration of the EU talks and the fate of the Bulgarian medics in Libya. At this, as Minister Passy put it, historic moment he wished the visit success and underlined he is proud that the best coverage of the Papal visit is made in Bulgaria. Minister Passy also called on all Bulgarians, those in the country and those abroad, to accumulate their positive energy, which in his opinion will result in a very fruitful effort. Bulgaria's Ambassador to the Holy See Vladimir Gradev, Mr. Armin Zerunyan, General Manager of Hilton Sofia and Mr. Ivan Genov, CEO of BTC-NET also were present at the opening of the studio, which will broadcast all details during the Papal visit to Bulgaria. All of them were unanimouis that the visit will focus the attention of the world on Bulgaria. Pope John Paul II arrives in Bulgaria today at 6pm and will leave on Sunday. The live studio of the sole web site in Bulgaria that covers all about the visit of the Pope in Bulgaria will air all public appearances of the Pope and will cover all the news, connected with the visit. Journalists, politicians, church officials will be invited to discuss different topics related to the event in the studio that will be based in Hilton Sofia Hotel.

Following is the program of the studio of popeinbulgaria.com that will cover live the visit of Pope John Paul II to Bulgaria. Please bear in mind that, in general the standard time zone of Bulgaria is UTC/GMT +2 hours but now due to the daylight saving time-adjustment of 1 hour, the current time zone offset is UTC/GMT +3 hours

May 23

4pm – 5.50 pm – Discussion from the studio

5.50 pm – 7.35pm - The official welcoming ceremony of Pope John Paul II May 23 with live coverage of the Bulgarian National Television (BNT)

7.35 pm – 8 pm – Commentary from the studio

8pm – 8.30 pm – Late news

May 24

10am – Review of the press

10.30 am – 11.15 am - Thanking public prayer in honor of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, served by Patriarch Maxim and the Holy Synod at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral covered by the Bulgarian National Television (BNT). The visit of the Pope at the Cathedral will also covered, where he is expected to retire for a prayer at the northern altar, dedicated to the Sts Cyril and Methodius.

11.15 am – 1pm - Worship at the Monument of Sts. Cyril and Methodius covered by the Bulgarian National Television and commentary from the studio

1pm – 6 pm – Film about the Papal visit, made by the team of novinite.com

6pm – 6.30 pm – Program from the studio

6.30 pm – 8pm - The meeting of the Pope with Bulgarian intellectuals at the National Palace of Culture with live BNT coverage

8 pm – 8.30 pm – Late news

May 25

9am – 10.20 am – Review of the press and discussion with guests in the studio

10.20 am – 12 pm - The worship of Pope John Paul II at the relics of Saint Ivan Rilski, patron of the Bulgarians at the Rila Monastery with live BNT coverage.

12pm – 3pm - Film about the Papal visit, made by the team of novinite.com

3pm – 5 pm – Program from the studio

5pm – 8pm - Film about the Papal visit, made by the team of novinite.com

8pm – Late news

May 26

9am – 9.30 am – Review of the press

9.30 am – 1.30 pm - The mass that Pope John Paul II will serve in Plovdiv with live coverage on the Bulgarian National Television, starting

9,30 a.m. with the welcoming ceremonies in front of the building of Plovdiv municipality.

1.30pm – 5pm – Program from the studio

5pm – 6pm - Live coverage of the Pope’s meeting with young people at the Catholics cathedral St. Joseph in Plovdiv.

6.30 pm - 7 pm - the official departure ceremony at airport Krumovo near Plovdiv will be shown.

7pm – 8 pm - Late News