Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, discussed the Euro-integration of the country and the Western Balkan region, as well as current global developments at an audience Thursday in the Vatican.
The president thanked for the congratulatory message sent by Pope Francis on her election win in the presidential elections and emphasized that it was a special honor for her in the year when the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries was being celebrated, to lead the state-church delegation at this significant event.
At the meeting, gifts were traditionally exchanged, during which President Siljanovska-Davkova presented Pope Francis with a large carving with a motif of the phoenix bird, which is a symbol of eternity.