President Peter Pellegrini has once again formally invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Slovakia, citing a major upcoming anniversary in 2027: the centenary of Our Lady of Sorrows being proclaimed as the country’s patron saint.
If accepted, this would mark Pope Leo XIV’s first official visit to Slovakia as pontiff. Neither the date nor the Vatican’s decision on the trip has been confirmed yet.
President sends official letter to the Pope
Pellegrini announced that he had addressed an official letter of invitation to the Holy Father.
In his letter, the president highlighted the significance of the approaching jubilee for Slovak believers as well as for the country as a whole.
According to the head of state, the Pope’s presence would give the centennial celebrations “a special spiritual and social dimension.”
This is not the first invitation: Pellegrini previously invited Leo XIV to Slovakia shortly after his papal election in May 2025.
Slovakia to mark 100 years of a key national patronage
In 2027, it will be one hundred years since Our Lady of Sorrows was declared the principal patron saint of Slovakia.
The feast day falls on September 15 and is among the most important church events in Slovakia.
This year, Pellegrini also attended the ceremonial Mass in Šaštín-Stráže and has repeatedly emphasized the importance of Christian tradition for Slovak society in his public statements.
Pope Leo XIV’s connections to Slovakia
Slovak bishops maintain an active relationship with the new pontiff. Pope Leo XIV has greeted Slovak pilgrims on several occasions.
In September, on the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows, he encouraged Slovak faithful to “bear witness to their faith through their lives by seeking her intercession.”
Aktualizovane.sk previously reported on the Pope’s planned visit to France, where he is expected to meet President Emmanuel Macron.
A tradition of papal visits to Slovakia
Slovakia has a rich history of papal visits.
Pope John Paul II visited Slovakia several times, and his trips remain among the biggest public events in the country’s recent history.
Most recently, Pope Francis visited Slovakia in September 2021. During his four-day trip, he traveled to Bratislava, Prešov, Košice, and Šaštín.
A visit from Pope Leo XIV would thus continue this tradition.
Awaiting a decision from the Vatican
The invitation alone does not guarantee the visit will take place.
The Vatican arranges the Pope’s international trips based on a range of diplomatic, pastoral, and logistical considerations. Should Leo XIV accept the invitation, planning for the date and details of the visit would follow.
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For Slovakia, a papal visit in the 2027 jubilee year would have not only spiritual but also significant social and diplomatic impact.
For now, only the president’s formal invitation is confirmed. The Vatican has yet to announce any plans for Pope Leo XIV to visit Slovakia.
More coverage on this topic can be found in the Vatican section.
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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
