But the move has run into objections from Bulgaria, which has a substantial Orthodox population, as well as a “reservation” — diplomatic language for concerns that need to be resolved, short of a veto — from Rome. The three diplomats were granted anonymity to discuss closed-door deliberations on sanctions.

The fact that Bulgarians are overwhelmingly Christian Orthodox has little to do with this. It has more to do with the fact that the Bulgarian clergy is still hugely controlled my the remains of the ex-Soviet security system.