Pope Francis on Saturday received in audience Zuzana Čaputová, President of the Slovak Republic and her entourage.
President Čaputová subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by the Reverend Msgr. Mirosław Wachowski, Under-Secretary for Relations with States.
According to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, “As the conversation proceeded, particular attention was dedicated to the war in Ukraine.”
Fico assassination attempt and EU elections
The statement also added that “During the cordial talks, which took place at the Secretariat of State, the parties discussed the country’s prospects in the light of the sad event of the assassination attempt on the Prime Minister, the imminent change of presidency, and the approaching European elections, expressing the hope that concord and peace in the country may be strengthened.”
Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, was seriously wounded two weeks ago when an assailant shot him at close range four times as he greeted supporters after a government meeting in the town of Handlova. He has just been dismissed from the hospital and is reportedly recovering at home. Fico, who has served as prime minister for over 10 of the last 18 years, returned to power at the head of a populist-nationalist coalition last September.
Pope Francis and President Zuzana Čaputová of Slovakia
Credit: Vatican News