With the audience with the Head of the Roman Catholic Church, His Holiness Pope Francis today in Vatican, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, and the Macedonian state and church delegation, began the activities within the event "Macedonia Honoring St. Cyril".

At the tete-a-tete meeting, President Ivanov and Pope Francis discussed the situation in Christianity, the relations between the Republic of Macedonia and Vatican, and the diplomatic relations which this year mark 20 years of establishment, as well as issues from the field of history, philosophy and everyday life.

"I have had a very constructive meeting with His Holiness. We have had really comprehensive talks with focus on the event honoring Ss. Cyril and Methodius, an event which is being marked by a Macedonian delegation for already 46 years, which this year coincides with the 20 year jubilee since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Macedonia and Vatican," President Ivanov said after the meeting.

Pope Francis and I, President Ivanov said, talked about how to nurture Macedonia's values, being the basis of Christianity: respect for other, dialogue between peoples and desire for peace and unity among the people in our country and worldwide, as a mission promoted by His Holiness.

At the meeting, the Macedonian President renewed the invitation to the Pope to visit the Republic of Macedonia. They assessed that in the past 20 years since Macedonia-Vatican diplomatic relations have been established, a new basis for cooperation has been built based on respect, understanding and friendship. This, as President Ivanov stressed, primarily refers to the usage of the Vatican archives, namely documents relating to Macedonia and its history, and to cooperation in the field of history, culture, and all other fields of common interest.

"I had the opportunity, through the talks, to see the power of His Holiness as a person, as a man who really wants to introduce adjustments in the Christian teachings in our everyday life and all challenges posed by today's life," President Ivanov said, which was received by the Pope in his private residence, which is a great honor.

The audience with the Head of the Roman Catholic Church, the Macedonian President was accompanied by his wife, Ms. Maja Ivanova, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Education and Science, Nikola Poposki and Spiro Ristovski, the Macedonian Ambassador to Vatican, Zvonimir Jankuloski. The church delegation is led by the Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia, His Holiness Stephen, and is comprised of the European Metropolitan Pimen, Bishop of Heraclea Clement, Father Kliment Mishanj, a pastor in Piacenza, father Goce Kostov, reverend in the Strumica Catholic Church.

Pope Francis received as a gift from the Macedonian delegation a wood carved icon of St. Cyril and an icon of Virgin Mary, as well as a book of the churches in Macedonia.

After the plenary meeting with the Pope, President Ivanov and the delegation, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, met with the Holy See Secretary of State, Monsignor Pietro Parolin.

"Several issues on our relations were tackled. When we established the relations, 20 years ago, it was under the UN reference. Now, 20 years after, it is possible to start a procedure, our constitutional name to be used in the bilateral relations," President Ivanov said. This, according to the Macedonian President, is of paramount importance for Macedonia because the established tradition will be aligned with the new reality that exists, as our name is used in the bilateral relations with most of the countries worldwide.

During the visit of the Italian Republic, the Macedonian President will hold a bilateral meeting with his Italian counterpart, Giorgio Napolitano, and will give lectures at the "Federico II" University of Naples and at the Franco Frattini Institute.