The Apostolic Delegation to Kosovo represents the interests of the
Holy See
The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of Rome ...
in
Kosovo
Kosovo ( sq, Kosova or ; sr-Cyrl, Косово ), officially the Republic of Kosovo ( sq, Republika e Kosovës, links=no; sr, Република Косово, Republika Kosovo, links=no), is a partially recognised state in Southeast Euro ...
to officials of the
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
, civil society, and government offices. The Holy See and the government of Kosovo have not established diplomatic relations and the position of Apostolic Delegate to Kosovo is not a diplomatic one, though the Delegate is a member of the diplomatic service of the Holy See. The Apostolic Delegate normally holds the title
Apostolic Nuncio to Slovenia and resides in
Ljubljana
Ljubljana (also known by other historical names) is the capital and largest city of Slovenia. It is the country's cultural, educational, economic, political and administrative center.
During antiquity, a Roman city called Emona stood in the ar ...
, Slovenia.
Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008 after a century of rule by
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label=Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavija ...
, the short-lived
State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, and
Serbia
Serbia (, ; Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Bas ...
, subject to a period of
United Nations administration. The Holy See has not formally recognized the independence of Kosovo.
Kosovo established its own Special Mission to the Holy See in January 2024.
Status
As the independent status of Kosovo was still a matter of dispute when the Holy See appointed its first delegate with responsibility for that area alone, the appointment was accompanied by an explanatory note: "In this regard, it should be pointed out that the appointment of an Apostolic Delegate falls within the organizational functions of the structure of the Catholic Church and hence has a purely intra-ecclesial character, being completely distinct from considerations regarding juridical and territorial situations or any other question inherent to the diplomatic activity of the Holy See. The mission of an Apostolic Delegate is not of a diplomatic nature but responds to the requirement to meet in an adequate way the pastoral needs of the Catholic faithful."
[
]
Representatives of the Holy See in Kosovo
;Apostolic Delegates to Kosovo
*Juliusz Janusz
Juliusz Janusz (born 17 March 1944) is a Polish prelate of the Catholic Church who has spent his career in the diplomatic service of the Holy See. He has been an archbishop and held the position of Apostolic Nuncio from 1995 until he retired in ...
(10 February 2011
See also
* Holy See's reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence
References
{{Diplomatic missions in Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo ( sq, Kosova or ; sr-Cyrl, Косово ), officially the Republic of Kosovo ( sq, Republika e Kosovës, links=no; sr, Република Косово, Republika Kosovo, links=no), is a partially recognised state in Southeast Euro ...