Plenković on the meeting with Holy Father: Pope Leo is in excellent shape, sharp and involved in all key global topics

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković met today in the Vatican with the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. They confirmed the excellent relations between Croatia and the Holy See and the continuation of the regular dialogue between the Government and the Croatian Bishops' Conference on all important issues for the Catholic Church and Croatian society. They also discussed global challenges that require a firm commitment to peace, democratic values, solidarity and respect for international law. They stressed the importance of ending the war in Ukraine as soon as possible and achieving a lasting and just peace, and advocated for the stabilization of the situation in the Middle East. The Prime Minister emphasized the need to provide support to Bosnia and Herzegovina, in which Croats are one of the three constituent peoples.

After attending his inauguration, this is the second meeting of Prime Minister Plenković with Pope Leo XIV.

In a statement to the media after the meeting, the Prime Minister said that they discussed the centuries-old connection and importance of the Catholic Church for Croatian identity, tradition and faith, and everything else that has maintained Croatian people for centuries.

He particularly emphasized the structured relations that the Government has with the Croatian Bishops' Conference and the regular dialogue on all important issues for the Church, but also on broader social topics important for a better future.

They also reflected on the Holy Father's first pastoral trip to Turkey and Lebanon, in the context of broader efforts to stabilize the situation in the Middle East.

They also discussed the Russian aggression against Ukraine and efforts to achieve a lasting and just peace, and the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of Vatican diplomacy, which is particularly influential, especially when it comes to the exchange of prisoners and the return of kidnapped Ukrainian children from Russia.

The special importance of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Croatia

The situation in Croatia's neighborhood and the process of the European path of the countries of Southeast Europe, which Croatia supports, were also discussed, with the hope that all countries with such ambitions would meet the criteria.

"I particularly emphasized the importance of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Croatia, objectively speaking, the most important neighboring country for us, both because of geographical, transport, political, economic and every other connection, and of course because of the fact that Croats are one of the three constituent peoples there," he said.

Prime Minister Plenković advocated for the equal position of Croats, especially ahead of the upcoming elections in the fall of 2026.

Invitation to the Holy Father to Visit Croatia

Pope Leo has already been invited to visit Croatia by the Croatian Bishops' Conference and the President of the Republic, and today the Prime Minister has also done so.

"We would be extremely pleased if Pope Leo XIV. visited Croatia," he said.

He assessed the conversation as very pleasant and cordial, expressing his belief that it contributed to the further positive development of relations between the Holy See and Croatia.

The Pope is truly sensitized to the position of the Croatian people in BiH

Answering journalists' questions, Prime Minister Plenković said that Pope Leo XVI. is in excellent shape.

"Intellectually, he is completely sharp and involved in all key global topics and he manages them in a way that he deals with them every day, which can be recognized immediately," he added.

He emphasized that there are a number of important associates of Pope Leo who are Croats, some of them originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina, with whom he has been cooperating for years and who can explain to him all the circumstances and position of the Croatian people.

"And my impression is that he is truly sensitized. He is a man of the world, a man with vast experience who has very prudent and reasonable views. I have a very positive impression after today's meeting," he said. 

Prime Minister Plenković presents the monograph "Incunabula Croatica" to the Holy Father

Prime Minister Plenković presented the monograph "Incunabula Croatica" to the Holy Father, which contains 96 Croatian incunabula in 180 copies identified in 40 institutions across Croatia.

This is a major publishing venture of the National University Library that brings a valuable contribution to the study of incunabula and the history of the Croatian book.

"I think it is an appropriate gift that will be a modest but valuable contribution from the Croatian side," said Plenković.

The Pope returned the gift with a bronze representation of the Holy Trinity.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by his wife Ana Maslać Plenković with their children, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Croatian Veterans Tomo Medved, Minister of Culture and Media Nina Obuljen Koržinek, Minister of Demography and Immigration Ivan Šipić, and Head of the Prime Minister's Office Zvonimir Frka-Petešić.

Prime Minister Plenković will conclude his official visit to the Holy See tonight by attending a Holy Mass in the Church of St. Jerome and meeting with the Croatian community.

Photo: Vatican Media

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