Ljubljana - President Borut Pahor will visit the Vatican on 6 and 7 February at the invitation of Pope Francis to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Slovenia and the Holy See.

Announcing the visit, the president's office said it would provide an opportunity for an exchange of views on relevant issues of current and future times.

This will be Pahor's third meeting with Pope Francis. He is also due to meet Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

During the visit Archbishop of Ljubljana Stanislav Zore will celebrate mass to commemorate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties at Saint Peter's Basilica, on the grave of Pope John Paul II.

Pahor will also attend a concert performed by the Slovenian Octet at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. The event is being organised by the Slovenian Embassy to the Holy See on the eve of Culture Day and the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Slovenia and the Vatican formally established diplomatic relations on 8 February 1992. The Holy See recognised Slovenia's independence on 13 January the same year.

The president's office said the support of the Holy See and Pope John Paul II for Slovenian independence efforts was indispensable for Slovenia to establish itself as a sovereign country.