Slovakia commemorates anniversaries of papal visits

Slovakia marks significant anniversaries regarding historical papal visits to the country.

September 2026 marks five years since the pastoral visit of Pope Francis, which took place from September 12 to 15, 2021. During his four-day trip, the Pope visited Bratislava, Prešov, Košice, and Šaštín, meeting with state leaders, religious communities, including Jewish and Roma representatives, and youth. One notable outcome of his visit was a collection of 600,000 euros raised to assist vulnerable families in Cuba.

Additionally, the country commemorates the 23rd anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s third visit to Slovakia, which occurred in September 2003. His travels included visits to various dioceses, including Trnava, Banská Bystrica, and Rožňava. His presence was noted for providing spiritual encouragement to the Church following the era of totalitarianism and for influencing the development of church structures, such as the establishment of the Košice Archdiocese.