February 13, 1931
Queen Giovanna of Bulgaria "upholds faithfully her Catholic religion, while her surroundings in Sofia just as staunchly oppose the influence of the pope on her." La Libre Belgique, a Brussels daily newspaper is, according to a report in the Chicago Daily Tribune, "indirectly inspired by the Vatican," and tells the story of Giovanna's religious struggles.
La Libre reports that "while incredible intrigues and maneuvers are going on around her, the young queen fulfills tranquility her obligations as a Catholic. She does not limit herself to attending mass in the chapel of the palace. Very often she attends solemn services in the Catholic church of Sofia, piously, modestly, and without any ceremony, quite like any simple parishioner."
The paper also reports that Orthodox circles are trying to regain a total hold on the royal family by "ousting the papal legate, Cardinal Roncalli."
One Bulgarian Orthodox newspaper with ties to the clergy recently published an article that was largely inflammatory toward the cardinal. "Msgr. Roncalli, who of late has tried to play a political role in our country, has been recalled by the pope. The cause for this recall is well known to the initiated, but considering what high personalities are involved, we shall not mention the reasons. Please to heaven that the representative of the pope grow wiser and think no longer that Bulgaria is located in Afghanistan."
However, the Pope has not recalled Cardinal Roncalli.
It is known, however, that the battle between the Orthodox and Catholic clergy in Sofia has "grown intense," and Bulgarian newspapers have not been permitted to report on religious matters. The Pope's Christmas message "did not reach the Bulgarian public through the press. This may have been due to the Pope's remark that it was "scandalous" that the Orthodox church had had Boris and Giovanna go through a second Orthodox marriage after the Roman Catholic ceremony in Italy.
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