Pope Francis received President of the Slovak Republic, Mr. Peter Pellegrini, in audience in the Vatican today, Dec. 9, 2019.
According to a statement published by the Holy See Press Office, during cordial discussions, the parties evoked the good bilateral relations “in the hope that they may be further strengthened in the field of education.”
“Mention,” it added, “was made of the recent legislative interventions in favor of religious communities, and various themes of mutual interest were discussed, such as national minorities, the promotion of freedom of religion, acceptance and social justice.”
Attention turned to several matters of a regional and international nature, with particular attention being given to the situation in Ukraine and in the Western Balkans in the light of the recent OSCE Ministerial Council, held in Bratislava under the Slovak presidency.
The Slovak President subsequently met with Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.
