The President of the Slovak Republic received the Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, Dominique Mamberti. At the beginning of the meeting the Slovak President pointed out the arrival of Christianity back in the times of Greater Moravia. The President appreciated that the Holy See, as one of the first international law entities, recognised the sovereignty of an independent and democratic Slovakia and established diplomatic relations with the country.

Ivan Gašparovič stressed that the Apostolic Nuncio Mons. Giordano, also present at the meeting, “is Slovakia’s friend who strengthens good relations between Slovakia and the Vatican.”
At the meeting with the President, Mons. Mamberti said that “the rich history connecting Slovakia and the Holy See serves as an excellent basis for good relations between the states. Values, which we have inherited and were brought to us by the Apostles – Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius – have been gradually enriched and represent a common religious heritage for the whole of Europe.”

The Slovak President and the Secretary of the Holy See also talked about an agreement between Slovakia and the Vatican which should, according to Mons. Mamberti, foster bilateral cooperation and pastoral care. Dominque Mamberti mentioned that the Vatican highly appreciated the good quality of the cooperation between the church and state institutions in Slovakia.
Ivan Gašparovič pointed out that Pope John Paul II had paid three visits to Slovakia, and that he had met the Holy Father Benedict XVI shortly after his appointment which, including today’s meeting is proof of the intensity and quality of relations. The President therefore expressed a belief that Pope Benedict XVI would pay a visit to Slovakia following an invitation for him to attend the occasion of the 1150th anniversary of St. Cyril and Methodius’s arrival, to be celebrated in 2013.

The Slovak President appreciated that the EU Lisbon Treaty respected the right of individual Member States to regulate relations with the Vatican according their needs. “As regards the fulfilment of an interstate agreement with the Vatican, there are still some unsolved issues concerning the separation of church and state and the application of the conscientious right to object.” However, Ivan Gašparovič hopes that Slovakia will find a mutually acceptable solution to this sensitive subject matter in the future.

During the discussion with the Secretary for Relations with States, the Slovak President said that Slovak society honoured the traditional family as a basis for the spiritual and moral values of the state.