Relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Holy See are good and stable although they are, in more ways than one, specific and determined by number of circumstances which are not present in Serbia’s relations with other states. There is a closeness of views on many important issues of the modern world. There is similarity and even congruence in the approach to certain general principles on which international relations should be based on. That is a good starting point for further intensification and enrichment of the cooperation, especially in international organizations and in facing the regional challenges.
Serbia is committed to further development and enrichment of the relations through continuous political dialogue, as well as through closer cooperation in international organizations.
Vatican has not recognized the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo. Position of the Holy See has remained within the framework of advocating for the preservation of peace and stability in the region, meeting all the standards set, lasting guarantees of human rights of all citizens and protection of the Christian heritage in Kosovo and Metohija.
The Holy See supports the integration of all the Western Balkan countries, including Serbia, into the EU, with the aim of ensuring the lasting stabilization of the region and as a stimulus to ecumenical dialogue. Vatican’s position is that the process of European integration should not be hampered by additional conditioning, something that did not exist in the case of other countries in that process.
Officials of the Republic of Serbia who visited the Holy See:
2004 - Vuk Draskovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs
2005 and 2009 – Boris Tadic, President of the Republic of Serbia
2009 – Vuk Jeremic, Minister of Foreign Affairs
2012 – Ivica Dacic, President of the Government of the Republic of Serbia
2013 - Tomislav Nikolic, President of the Republic of Serbia attended the inauguration of the Pope Francis.
2015 - Tomislav Nikolic, President of the Republic of Serbia
2018 - Ivica Dacic, Minister of Foreign Affairs
2019 - Aleksandar Vucic, President of the Republic of Serbia
2021 - Nikola Selakovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Officials of the Holy See who visited Serbia:
2003 - Secretary for the Relations with States of the Holy See, J. L. Toran.
2014 - Secretary for the Relations with States of the Holy See, mons. D. Mamberti.
2014 - Librarian of the Vatican Library, archbishop J. L. Brugues.
2015 - Secretary for the Relations with States of the Holy See, archbishop P. Gallagher.
2018 - Cardinal Pietro Parolin, State Secretary of the Holy See
2019 - Deputy Secretary for the Relations with States of the Holy See, mons. A. Camilleri.
2021 - Secretary for the Relations with States of the Holy See, mons. P. R. Gallagher
Delegation of the Holy See attended the enthronement of Patriarch Irinej in 2009 and in 2012, the inauguration of Tomislav Nikolic, the President of the Republic of Serbia.
In June 2004 the Theological Faculty of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Lateran University in Rome signed the Agreement on the exchange of professors and students between the two high education institutions.
In July 2014 the Agreement on cooperation in the field of education was signed in Belgrade.
In September 2014 the Protocol of cooperation was signed between Vatican Library and Serbian national library.
