Today in the Vatican Apostolic Palace the Holy Father Francis received in audience His Excellency Mr. Duško Marković, prime minister of Montenegro, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial discussions the parties focused on the existing good bilateral relations, in the hope that they may be consolidated further. In particular, they highlighted the value of the harmonious inter-ethnic and interreligious co-existence which characterizes the millennia-long Montenegrin identity.

Finally, there was an exchange of views on some themes of an international nature, with particular reference to the future of the European project, the current religious challenges and the phenomenon of migration.