This morning, the Holy Father Francis received in audience, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, His Excellency Mr. Jakov Milatović, President 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 and International Organizations.

During the cordial discussions, which took place at the Secretariat of State, the good existing relations between the Holy See and Montenegro were highlighted and topics of common interest were addressed, emphasizing the positive contribution of the local Catholic community to Montenegrin society, as well as some open questions in relations between the Church and the State.

Subsequently, a number of current issues were reviewed, including the path of Montenegro and other Western Balkan countries towards full integration into the European Union, and the conflicts in Israel and Palestine and in Ukraine.

From the Vatican, 7 March 2024