President Petr Pavel met with the Pope on Monday as part of an official visit to the Vatican. The castle announced the results of the meeting on its website.
“We also discussed the relationship between the Vatican and the Czech Republic or the Pope’s invitation to visit, which he accepted with thanks. I am glad that the relationship between the Holy See and us is at such a high level,” said President Pavel regarding the invitation.
During the joint meeting, they discussed current topics and their impact on the Czech Republic and Europe. “The Church has an extraordinary diplomatic reach, and Pope Leo XIV tries very actively to moderate disputes and help resolve conflicts. I thanked him, among other things, for his efforts to free Jan Darmovzal from Venezuela,” the president added.
During the meeting, Paul again invited the Pope to visit the Czech Republic, as he had already done after his election. The President now said that Leo XIV. he is inclined to do so. The last pope to visit the Czech Republic was Benedict XVI in 2009. On the other hand, since the revolution in 1989, all Czech presidents have visited the Vatican.
After the meeting with His Holiness, the President met with His Eminence Pietro Cardinal Patrolino, Secretary of State. “Subsequently, the President of the Republic and Mrs. Eva toured the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, where they laid flowers at the altar of St. Wenceslas, and also part of the Vatican Gardens,” the Castle said.
The presidential couple also visited the Czech papal college Nepomucenum, which is intended for Czech and Moravian priests and theologians studying at papal universities.
