Miloš Lichner, Dean of the Bratislava-based Faculty of Theology of the University of Trnava has become the new vice-president of the European Society for Catholic Theology (ESCT), which brings together more than eight hundred theologians from all over Europe. He was elected to the post at the end of the international theological interdisciplinary conference "The Challenge of Fraternity", which took place from the 30^th of August till the 2^nd of September in Strasbourg. During these three days, the prominent speakers took the floor, the space was given to young doctoral students as well, and at the same time, the best theological book was rewarded. This congress is held every two years and is organized by the ESCT. It also includes national and regional sections with involvement of Slovak theologians (SSCT). 

At the end of the above-mentioned European Congress, the General Assembly of the ESCT held the election of the new ESCT vice-president, who will automatically become the ESCT president after two years when the new vice-president will be elected. One of several tasks of the vice-president is also the preparation of the international conference in his country," says Miloš Lichner for the Press Agency of the Slovak Bishops´ Conference. The Slovakian has been elected unanimously. Prof. Marie-Jo Thiel from the University of Strasbourg has become the new president and new members of the ESCT presidium have been elected as well.

"I am grateful for the trust that theologians have unanimously expressed to me. Many of them I know from books I read, and today they have voted for me. I am also happy for the fact that this is the first time the presidium moves to the former Eastern Bloc. At the same time, I feel a sense of responsibility, because only the vice-president can be elected. He will automatically become president after two years, his agenda is quite large and it will increase the agenda which I already have", Miloš Lichner responded.

The Slovak Society for Catholic Theology (SSCT) was established by the Slovak Bishops´ Conference at its 56^th plenary session on the 12^th of February 2007 in Prešov and was founded on the first constituent assembly on the 18^th of May 2007 at the seminary in Badín. The SSCT has been the section of the ESCT since its inception. The first chairman was Cyril Hišem, Dean of the TF KU. In April 2015, at the 8^th General Assembly of the SSCT, his current executive secretary and co-founder Miloš Lichner SJ, Dean of the TF TU, became the new chairman. The SSCT cooperates in several spheres with the Slovak Bishops' Conference as well as with the ESCT.