20 - 28 September 2003
Celje, Slovenia

The 2003 Apostolat Militaire International Conference and General Assembly was held in Celje, Slovenia. The choice of location was historically significant, as it marked the first time the conference was hosted in one of the new democratic countries of Southeast Europe. Twelve delegations participated, representing Austria, Belgium, Germany, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the United Kingdom, Slovenia, Congo-Brazzaville, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Croatia, and Slovakia.

The central theme of the conference was “The Christian Soldier of the Third Millennium and His Responsibility for International Peace.” This theme was explored through a number of presentations and discussions that addressed the role of lay activities within military chaplaincies in new democratic states, the mission of Christian soldiers in promoting peace in light of the 40th anniversary of Pacem in Terris, and the ethical dimensions of military missions and interventions, including peacekeeping, peace enforcement, humanitarian operations, and preventive action.

A key outcome of the conference was the expansion of the AMI community. Slovakia and Croatia attended for the first time, and the Military Bishop of Croatia formally requested full membership for his country. The assembly also emphasized practical priorities such as strengthening internal communication, attracting new members, and deepening ties with Military Bishops. Continuing the practice from the previous year, AMI planned to compile all documents from the Celje event onto a CD for distribution to member countries, ensuring that the discussions and findings could serve as a resource for their ongoing work.