Today the Holy Father Francis received in audience His Excellency Mr. Peter Pellegrini, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial discussions, the parties focused on the good bilateral relations, in the hope that they may be further strengthened in the field of education. Mention was then made of the recent legislative interventions in favour 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.

Finally, in the light of the recent OSCE Ministerial Council, held in Bratislava under the Slovak presidency, themes of an international and regional nature were considered, with particular attention to the situation in Ukraine and in the Western Balkans.