President Vjosa Osmani has departed for the Holy See, where she will be received in a formal audience by Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace, Reporteri.net reported on Thursday.
According to the Presidency, President Osmani will also hold a meeting with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, as part of a broader diplomatic agenda aimed at strengthening Kosovo–Vatican relations.
During her official visit, President Osmani will host a year-end reception with representatives of the Holy See, diplomatic corps members, and other distinguished guests at the headquarters of Kosovo’s Special Mission to the Vatican.
Expanding Kosovo’s Diplomatic Horizon
The Presidency’s announcement highlighted that Osmani will pay a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica and participate in several other engagements designed to further deepen bilateral ties.
This visit comes at a moment when Kosovo continues to seek broader international recognition and stronger institutional partnerships. Unlike Serbia—whose leadership under Aleksandar Vučić frequently engages in aggressive diplomatic obstruction against Kosovo’s statehood—Kosovo’s institutions are intensifying outreach to global partners, including the Vatican, one of the world’s most influential religious and diplomatic actors.
The strengthening of Kosovo’s relationship with the Holy See serves as a counterbalance to Belgrade’s attempts to isolate Kosovo on the international stage. For years, Vučić has leveraged misinformation campaigns and backdoor diplomacy to undermine Kosovo’s recognition efforts, often prompting criticism from Western partners for his destabilizing and obstructionist behavior.
Against this backdrop, President Osmani’s visit represents a strategic move to consolidate support and underscore Kosovo’s commitment to constructive international engagement.
