DPM Lukšić visits Vatican: Montenegro and Holy See establish very good and friendly relations

The Holy See (17 June 2015) – Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Igor Lukšić paid Wednesday an official visit to the Holy See, where he met with Pope Francis and had separate meetings with State Secretary, Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Secretary of the Holy See relations with other countries, Monsignor Paul Ricard Gallagher.

At the meeting with Pope Francis, Deputy Prime Minister Lukšić emphasised the importance of the Pope's advocacy for peace, justice and equality between people and his activities towards helping developing countries’ fight against poverty and strengthening of ecumenical dialogue and sustainable development policy. Having conveyed greetings of President Vujanović, he reiterated  invitation for Pope Francis to visit Montenegro.

The Deputy Prime Minister’s meeting with Cardinal Parolin and Monsignor Gallagher commended the bilateral relations between Montenegro and the Holy See, which, as they agree, have no outstanding issues and are based on substantial, constructive and intensive high-level political dialogue.

Both sides noted that the implementation of the Basic Agreement between Montenegro and the Holy See forms a solid basis for further deepening and improvement of the traditionally good and friendly relations between the two countries, to which an immeasurable contribution has been made by the Joint Commission.

With regard to European and Euro-Atlantic accession, the Holy See’s top-level representatives welcomed the results Montenegro achieved in this area and stressed full support of the Roman Curia to the implementation of the country’s strategic foreign policy priorities.