President Pirc Musar and Pope Francis on the urgent efforts to bring a prompt end to human tragedies in Ukraine, Gaza and elsewhere in the world

Pope Francis and President Pirc Musar share concerns about the situation in Ukraine. Amid a record surge in civilian casualties in recent months, the Pope, on the first Sunday of Advent, urged the international community and all others to exhaust all avenues to bring this war to an end, so that dialogue, fraternity and reconciliation can prevail.  In the President's words, "This is also the wish of Slovenia, which is committed to a just and lasting peace, grounded on the UN Charter, which includes respect for Ukraine's the sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Ukraine must have a seat at the table in all peace negotiations."

She stressed that Slovenia's commitment to international solidarity remains steadfast, which is why she regularly draws attention to the need for reforms in global governance. As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Slovenia is actively working to bridge divisions within the UN Security Council and seek solutions for peace. That is why Slovenia supports the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the decision to issue arrest warrants for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, President Pirc Musar stressed. Slovenia is also a steadfast supporter of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which has been instrumental in providing assistance to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem for 75 years. As the President pointed out, the two-state solution remains the only viable path to lasting peace and stability in the region.

As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Slovenia focuses on conflict prevention, enhanced protection of civilians in armed conflict, promoting a greater role for women in peace and security, and addressing the interconnections between climate, water, peace and security. "To tackle the climate crisis facing humanity, we need peace, not more and more wars," said President Pirc Musar. The President and the Pope also warned against the escalation in the use of weapons of mass destruction, which the entire world watches with fear.

She believes that Slovenia can woek together with the Holy See on the climate crisis, conflict prevention, the protection of civilians and other pressing issues.

The President also emphasised that inter-religious dialogue is a vital element for fostering greater understanding and cooperation worldwide and a prerequisite for more effective conflict resolution. She highlighted last year's inter-religious meeting of the Forum for Dialogue and Peace in the Balkans in Koper, in which she participated alongside the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Parolin.
The President added that, in the current turbulent geopolitical situation, EU enlargement must remain a high priority on the political agenda for the Western Balkans. She expects governments in the region to demonstrate a clear commitment to advancing reforms toward EU membership and to adopt a constructive approach to resolving outstanding issues, including reconciliation. In her view, the rise of nationalism among young people is a dangerous consequence of insufficient reconciliation and a lack of prospects for the future.

At the end of the talks, President Pirc Musar expressed her satisfaction that, during Pope Francis' visit to Trieste this year, at the conclusion of the 50th Social Week of Italian Catholics, the Slovenian language was also heard during the Mass. She considers this an important acknowledgment of the Slovenian national community and the Slovenian-speaking congregation in Italy, which forms an integral part of the Catholic Church in a region where Italian and Slovenian communities coexist.

President Pirc Musar invited Pope Francis to visit Slovenia and presented him with a symbolic gift – a handmade walnut wood tray by Slovenian designer Oskar Kogoj, called the Slovenian Heart. This traditional ethnographic design symbolises the beauty and goodness of the human heart and is dedicated to all those who strive for peace and cooperation. The tray was accompanied by heart-shaped gingerbread made by the Perger family company from Slovenj Gradec, which has a long tradition dating back to 1757.

The Slovenian President concluded her visit to Italy with a lunch with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace in Rome.