Pope and Slovenian President Discuss Balkans

(06 Feb 08 - RV) The Holy Father received the President of Slovenia, Danilo Türk Wednesday.

Slovenia currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, and is the the only ex-republic of Yugoslavia to be a member of the organization.

According to a communiqué released by the Holy See Press Office, the two spoke about current events in the international arena, especially the situation in the Balkans, in light of Slovenia’s EU presidency.

They also spoke of the good relations between Slovenia and the Holy See, and hope that certain matters under discussion between the two states will soon come to a satisfactory resolution.

At the end of the Audience today Pope Benedict also greeted the mother of Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt. The Pope assured her that he was praying for the former presidential candidate kidnapped by leftist guerrillas in 2002.