Slovak Head of State Receives the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

The President of the Slovak Republic Ivan Gašparovič received Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace “Iustitia et Pax”. Apostolic Nuncio Mario Giordano, for whose appointment the Slovak President thanked his guest, also attended their meeting.

Ivan Gašparovič praised relations between the Slovak Republic and the Holy See, which have traditionally been very good, and declared Slovakia’s openness towards dialogue and cooperation with the Catholic Church and its top statutory body – the Holy See. He also appreciated cooperation between the Churches and the general population. In Slovakia, 73% of the population profess to be Catholics, and that is why cooperation between the state and the Church is important.

Ivan Gašparovič particularly underlined the importance of the mission of the Saints Cyril and Methodius, who brought faith and the written word to Slovaks. The year 2013 will mark the 1150th anniversary of their arrival in Slovakia, and on this occasion Gašparovič reiterated his invitation for the Pope Benedict XVI to visit Slovakia. He also asked the Cardinal to pass on his greetings to the Pope in person.

Renato Raffaele Martino informed the President about the publication of the Slovak translation of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. Slovak is the 40th language version in which the document has appeared.

Gašparovič noted he was already familiar with the Compendium before receiving it from the Pontifical Council President. He added many of the principles that can be found in the Compendium are incorporated in the Slovak Constitution.