Holy See–North Macedonia relations

Relations

The Republic of North Macedonia became an independent country in 1991, when it declared itself independent from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Holy See was among the countries which supported the country's independence and sovereignty from the very start.

Full diplomatic relations between the Holy See and North Macedonia were established on 21 December 1994. However, the Holy See was not among the 131 states which recognized the country under its former constitutional name, but established relations under the country's UN reference "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia".

North Macedonia gets continuous support from the Holy See, especially when it gets to North Macedonia's aspirations to join the European Union.

North Macedonia's leadership for almost fifty years annually visits the pope in the Vatican City.

Diplomatic representations

Until 2002, the embassy of North Macedonia in Slovenia was accredited to the Holy See. Since 2002, North Macedonia maintains an embassy for the Holy See in Rome.

Relations with the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric

The relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric (MOC-OA) are characterized as good. The Holy See has often and in a variety of ways helped the functioning of the Orthodox Church in North Macedonia.

References

References

1. [http://www.utrinski.com.mk/?ItemID=BD9997243AFFDB4185BA2E69C448E401 Папата поканет да ја посети Македонија] (in Macedonian). [[Utrinski vesnik]]. ''19-09-2009''
2. [http://www.mia.com.mk/default.aspx?vId=68963977&lId=2 PM Gruevski meets Zagreb Archbishop Bozanic] [[Macedonian Information Agency]]. ''09-11-2009''
3. A1 Television]]. ''22-05-2009''
4. link. (2012-03-20 (in Macedonian). Alfa TV. ''14-01-2010'')
5. link. (2012-03-22 (in Macedonian). Inpress. ''22-12-2009'')
6. [http://www.emg.rs/en/news/region/144809.html Bolivia is 131. country to use Macedonia's constitutional name] {{webarchive. link. (2011-01-23 Ekonom:east Media Group. ''20-01-2011'')
7. [http://www.mia.com.mk/default.aspx?mId=16&vId=70694744&lId=1&title=%D0%9F%D0%9E%D0%A2%D0%A1%D0%95%D0%A0%D0%92%D0%98%D0%A1%D0%98+-+%D0%98%D0%9D%D0%A2%D0%95%D0%A0%D0%92%D0%88%D0%A3 МИА Интервју со новиот амбасадор на Република Македонија во Ватикан Ѓоко Ѓорѓевски] (in Macedonian). [[Macedonian Information Agency]]. ''14-01-2010''
8. The Holy See has an [[Apostolic Nunciature. link. (2011-09-30 Republic of Macedonia- Ministry of Foreign Affairs)