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A poster for the next visit of Pope Francis to Sofia, May 4, 2019. REUTERS / Stoyan Nenov

After Panama in January, then Abu Dhabi and Morocco, Pope Francis flies on Sunday morning May 5 for Bulgaria where he will stay two days. A trip that will end in North Macedonia on Tuesday with his arrival in Skopje, the capital city which is also the birthplace of Mother Teresa. So why this new Orthodox trip to three weeks of the European elections?

Francis likes what he calls the peripheries, and the Catholics of Bulgaria are one, representing not even 1% in a predominantly orthodox population.

This trip is part of François' desire to meet this minority, but also to strengthen the dialogue with the Orthodox world. But here, François arrives at a bad time. Orthodoxy in Europe is fraught with great tensions related to the Ukrainian crisis, with Churches choosing to remain in the orbit of Moscow or to place themselves under the wing of Constantinople.

► See also: Ukraine: the now independent Orthodox Church

So speaking with Rome is the least of the worries of the moment for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, a Church damaged by communism, inward-looking and in decline with a patriarchy that deliberately chose to stay away from highlights of this papal visit.

A three-week visit to the European elections in the poorest country of Europe, which has been pinned for its treatment of migrants , another subject of tension with the Pope who will visit Monday morning near Sofia a refugee camp.