Pope Leo XIV received the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Janez Janša, in a private audience at the Vatican Apostolic Palace on Monday, October 5, 2026. Following his meeting with the Pontiff, Prime Minister Janša met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.
According to a statement from the Holy See, the discussions took place in a cordial atmosphere. Both parties expressed appreciation for the strong bilateral relations between the Holy See and Slovenia, affirming their shared commitment to further expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest, while also acknowledging the positive contributions of the Catholic Church to Slovenian society.
The leaders also reviewed key international matters, with a particular focus on the current political landscape in the Western Balkans and the region’s future prospects within the European integration process.
The papal audience formed part of Prime Minister Janša’s official visit to Rome, where he was also scheduled to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss bilateral ties between the neighboring nations. The Holy See did not release further specific details regarding the private discussion.