20 - 26 September 2004
Bratislava, Slovakia

The Apostolat Militaire International (AMI) General Assembly and Conference took place in Bratislava, Slovakia. The event was a follow-up to the previous year's conference in Celje, Slovenia, which focused on "The Christian Soldier of the Third Millennium and his Responsibility for International Peace". In Celje, key decisions were made, including accepting Croatia as a full member, updating the Standing Order regarding the election of the Ecclesiastical Assistant, and deciding on future conference locations and languages. The 2004 conference in Bratislava, hosted by the Slovakian Military Bishop, brought together 16 delegations to discuss the main theme: "The Soldier and his/her Family today - Situation and problems – Challenges to be met by Armed Forces and Pastoral".

The Bratislava conference agenda included lectures and discussions on the social, political, and military implications for soldiers' families, as well as the challenges for religious services and the lay apostolate. An additional topic was the military, ethical, and religious implications of emerging European Armed Forces, a subject the Vatican had asked AMI to monitor. The event also served as an opportunity for the AMI Executive Committee to report on its activities, such as improving internal communication, attracting new members, and cooperating with the Conference of International Catholic Organisations (CICO). The Secretary General emphasized the importance of international cooperation among Catholic soldiers as a vital service to support peace, freedom, and human rights.