Slovenian President Invites Pope Leo XIV to Visit
Cordial Vatican talks addressed Church–State ties, the Western Balkans, and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Pope Leo XIV received Nataša Pirc Musar, President of the Republic of Slovenia, in audience at the Vatican on Monday, October 26, 2026. The audience marked a further step in the regular high-level contacts between Slovenia and the Holy See.
After meeting the Holy Father, the Slovenian president was received at the Secretariat of State by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of His Holiness. Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, took part in the talks.
Church, State, and Open Crises
The discussions were cordial. Appreciation was expressed for the good bilateral relations already uniting Slovenia and the Holy See. Both sides addressed issues of mutual interest concerning relations between the Church and the State. The exchange then turned to international matters, with particular attention to the Western Balkans and to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
On this occasion, President Pirc Musar delivered a written official invitation to Pope Leo XIV for a visit to the Republic of Slovenia. The gesture belongs to a dialogue that has remained steady at the highest level in recent years.
From Earlier Visits to a Hospice Call
The Slovenian president’s previous visit to the Holy See took place on December 5, 2024. On April 26, 2025, she attended the funeral of Pope Francis.
Once her meetings inside the Vatican had concluded, President Pirc Musar visited the Health and Research Foundation hospice in Rome. The facility operates with financial support from the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. She planned to make a statement to Slovenian media around 11 a.m. on Pius XII Square, in front of St. Peter’s Square.
The president wished Pope Leo XIV a full recovery and good health following his recent surgery.