Representatives of the Association “Youth Guard Squads” attended a general audience with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. The leaders of the Bulgarian delegation managed to exchange a few words with the Holy Father, who recognized the difficulty and importance of working with young people. Pope Leo XIV also received special gifts from the Association, which will remind him of his meeting with the students from our country.
The young guards felt the power of unity, values, and mission they carry as part of our organization. The unforgettable visit to the Vatican was made possible thanks to His Excellency Archbishop Luciano Suriani, the Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to the Republic of Bulgaria. The initiative is part of an international program in Rome, carried out with the support of the European Commission and funded by the “Erasmus+” program, Youth sector. The exchange took place under the mentorship of Mrs. Rositsa Kirova, Chairperson of the Committee on Citizens’ Direct Participation in the National Assembly, under the patronage of the Presidency of the Republic of Bulgaria and with the institutional support of the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Guard Unit, and the Embassy of Italy in Bulgaria.
The event was also realized with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Rome and the Honorary Consulate of Italy in Plovdiv, whose partnership contributes to strengthening bilateral relations and the successful implementation of the visit. The official Bulgarian delegation will include:
• Росица Кирова – Member of Parliament and Chair of the Commission for Direct Participation of Citizens
• Petar Mladenov – Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports
– Tanya Mihaylova – Head of the Minister of Education and Science’s Office
– Monika Yanakieva – Director of the “Selection, Contracting, and Reporting” Directorate at the Center for Human Resource Development
– Col. Petar Kindalov – Commander of the National Guard Unit
– Col. Iliya Milushev – Advisor to the President of the Republic of Bulgaria
– Mariana Shoteva – Chair of the Administrative Court – Plovdiv
• Giuseppe De Francesco – Honorary Consul of Italy in Plovdiv
The day for the youth continued with a visit to “Link” University, which is impressive for its support of sports and the so-called dual career, allowing local athletes to develop in other professional fields. The “Youth Guard Units” association was welcomed by the owner of the institution, Francesco Polidori, and the fruitful visit was facilitated by Antonio Tofanelli from the university’s protocol.
Bulgarian students participated in a discussion with the Vice President of the Italian Olympic Committee, Marco Di Paola, who talked about the organization’s activities and the preparations for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan/Cortina. Professors Alessandro Benicampi and Gianpaolo Guarnieri from “Link” University highlighted successful examples of “dual careers” and how they assist athletes in this process.
The youth were particularly interested in conversations with Natalia D’Angelo (taekwondo), Lucrezia Paulis (fencing), and Damiano Lestingi (swimming), who are high-level Italian athletes, including participants in the Olympic Games, but are also developing in other areas thanks to successful educational programs.
The “Youth Guard Detachments” Association holds accreditation No. 2025-1-BG01-KA151-YOU-000297794, awarded in 2025, which ensures the sustainability and long-term development of projects in the field of youth policies. In recent years, the Association has established its role as an active participant in international youth exchange. In 2022 and 2023, its delegations visited the Vatican by special invitation from His Holiness Pope Francis and the Pontifical Swiss Guard. In 2023, the organization was also received at the state level in Montenegro, where it met with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Ministers of Education, Sports, and Human and Minority Rights.
The current visit to Italy is the first of three international trips planned by the Association for the 2025–2026 period, with visits to Cyprus and Belgium also scheduled.
Photos: Milen Torbev
