On November 14, 2025, an international conference was held in Nova Gorica–Kostanjevica, Slovenia, to mark the 800th anniversary of the friary in neighboring Gorizia, Italy, which tradition says was founded by St. Anthony in 1225.
The Vicar General, Friar Igor SALMIČ, organized the conference along with Professor Renato PODBERSIČ. Friar Igor stayed at the Friars Minor friary in Kostanjevica, very close to the historic friary in Gorizia, which no longer exists today. In fact, the Conventual Franciscans were forced to leave it in 1785, following the imperial suppression of Joseph II. A year later, the Reformed Franciscan Friars (of the Strict Observance) settled there. In 1811, they, too, had to abandon it to move permanently to the friary in Kostanjevica.
The conference brought together experts from Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia. It opened with introductory remarks from the Most Reverend Peter ŠTUMPF, Bishop of Koper, Slovenia, and from the Ministers Provincial of the three Franciscan Provinces in Slovenia, namely, Friars Christian GOSTEČNIK, OFM; Milan KOS, OFM Conv.; and Primož KOVAČ, OFM Cap., as well as the Vicar Provincial of the Italian Province of St. Anthony of Padua [Northern Italy], Friar Franco GIRALDI, OFM Conv. Next, there were lectures by Vojko PAVLIN; Friar Luciano BERTAZZO, OFM Conv.; Friar Ljudevit MARAČIĆ, OFM Conv.; Friar Igor SALMIČ, OFM Conv., Matej HRIBERŠEK; Jože ŠKOFLJANEC; Ivan PORTELLI; Renato PODBERŠIČ; and Boris GOLEC. They lectured on the history of the friary in Gorizia and other nearby Franciscan friaries, from their origins to the present day. They highlighted the religious life and apostolate of the friars from the various Franciscan families in Gorizia and the surrounding area.
Many guests attended the conference, including history experts, friends, and friars from both sides of the border [between Italy and Slovenia] which, between the end of World War II and the early 1990s, formed part of the so-called “Iron Curtain.” Now, thank God, this border no longer divides but unites, as demonstrated by the name given to the square connecting the towns of Gorizia and Nova Gorica, namely Piazza Transalpina or Piazza dell’Europa. It was wonderful to have the friars gathered together from the Italian Province of St. Anthony of Padua (Northern Italy) from Padua and Trieste, the Province of St. Joseph in Slovenia from Piran, Ptuj, Ptujska Gora and Olimje, and the Province of St. Jerome in Croatia from Cres.
The conference concluded with a visit to the Bourbon tombs located in the crypt of the friary in Kostanjevica. Particularly noteworthy was the tomb of King Charles X of France, who died in Gorizia in 1830.
The international conference was a wonderful opportunity to recall the centuries-old history of Franciscan presence in the towns of Gorizia and Nova Gorica, which are united as this year’s European Capital of Culture.
This historic event was immortalized with beautiful photos taken by the official photographer, Tamino PETELINŠEK.
Friar Igor SALMIČ, Vicar General
Photos: Tamino PETELINŠEK
