By: Gašper Blažič
The event that took place on Friday, September 12 (on the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, which commemorates the victory over the Turks at Vienna) caused quite a bit of noise and scandal. At the Slovenian national shrine in Brezje, a display case dedicated primarily to children with cancer was opened and blessed. A completely noble intention, but as is well known, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. It was not the blessing of a chapel, as the government reported on its website (HERE) and as was later summarised by the STA.
The event was also attended by Prime Minister Robert Golob and his wife Tina Gaber – the two have only recently married. Their presence caused many puzzled looks. Or perhaps not. Tina Gaber is, after all, an ambassador for children with cancer, a title she is said to have received in February of this year. Since it is not entirely clear to us how this came about, we turned to artificial intelligence for information, though even AI proved rather scarce and vague in its answers.
Since when is she the “ambassador of sick children”?
This is how Grok (an AI programme on the X platform) replied: “Tina Gaber, who has long been known for her involvement in charitable and social initiatives (for example, as an ambassador of the Slovenian Deafblind Association DLAN, an advocate for animal rights, and a participant in campaigns for vulnerable groups), became connected with the Golden Ribbon Institute through her partner, Prime Minister Robert Golob. The institute, which brings together children with cancer and their families and focuses on raising awareness, support, and assistance during treatment, awards the title ‘Golden Ambassador’ as a token of gratitude for heartfelt work and contributions to its mission. The award ceremony was part of a broader event that was also addressed by President of the Republic Nataša Pirc Musar, which indicates a high level of state support. Her engagement soon manifested in concrete actions: in May 2025, as ambassador, she took a teddy bear (a symbol of hope for children with cancer) to the Vatican, where it was blessed by Pope Leon XIV. Later, in April 2025, at the request of a sick girl named Enja, she brought a stuffed dog, Zlatko, to the papal inauguration and returned it to the girl, who then donated it for the chapel at Brezje. This culminated in September 2025 with her attendance at the consecration of a chapel for children with cancer in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians at Brezje, where she was explicitly mentioned as the institute’s ‘Golden Ambassador.’ Her role thus emerged as a combination of personal engagement, government support, and direct collaboration with the institute during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.”
But there is obvious confusion in this account: according to Grok, April 2025 somehow comes after May 2025.
ChatGPT is even more sparing with details. It notes that the Golden Ribbon Institute is an association that supports children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with cancer and works to raise public awareness of the disease. It adds that Tina Gaber was present at the event “Golden Ambassadors for Children with Cancer,” organised by the institute. At the award ceremony for “Golden Ambassador for Children with Cancer” on February 24, 2025, which was attended by the Prime Minister, the institute’s laureates and participants were honoured, while Gaber was present as his companion. She also took part in symbolic activities with the Golden Ribbon movement – for example, bringing teddy bears representing hope for children with cancer to the Vatican to be blessed by the Pope. So, it remains unclear how or when she officially became an ambassador, and why. Was it simply because she happens to be the companion (now wife) of the Prime Minister? It is known that no such activities were seen during the previous government’s term.
The website marija.si, however, offers more detail: “The story of the plush ‘hero Zlatko’ began with a phone call from Mrs. Tina Gaber Golob. She met the children gathered under the umbrella of the Institute in February 2025, and an invisible bond was formed among them. For the Mass marking the beginning of the pontificate of Pope Leon XIV, which took place in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, she wanted to bring along objects chosen by the children. The decision she left up to them. After careful thought, the children selflessly chose Enja. At that time, Enja was battling an illness that showed no mercy. Her family was literally hoping for a miracle. Mrs. Gaber Golob’s offer became, at that moment, a shining light at the end of a dark tunnel for the brave girl. Enja, full of hope, brought along a teddy bear given to her by her classmates on the day she confided to them what cruel struggle she was entering. Since the bear was a bit large, she also added a small stuffed dog, just in case. Enja wanted the two toys to carry the message of all children with cancer to the place where prayers are heard, where people come for comfort, and where great words of faith, compassion, and humanity are spoken – the Vatican. Both returned from the Vatican, blessed, back to Enja.”
The teddy bear became Zlatko the puppy
We had already reported on the Golob–Gaber couple’s visit to the inauguration of Pope Leon XIV this May. At that time, however, it was reported that “RoberTina” had brought a teddy bear to the Pope for blessing (now, suddenly, it has become Zlatko the puppy, editor’s note). We rather doubt this, as there was hardly any time for such things during the inauguration on May 18, when the Pope was receiving congratulations. Allegedly, though, the Pope did manage to quickly bless not just one but two stuffed toys.
Some two weeks after the event, Valerija Čarman, co-founder of the Golden Ribbon Institute, spoke on Radio Ognjišče (HERE) about the organisation’s activities. She only mentioned the Vatican blessing in passing, and said nothing about the Gaber–Golob couple. Apparently out of caution. Yet, as can be seen from social media posts, she appeared in photos with Slovenia’s “first couple” in good spirits, though it is very likely she views such encounters from a non-political perspective. The association was presented in a similar light in Naša družina (a weekly Catholic supplement), where only former president Borut Pahor was mentioned in connection with having auctioned off his old Renault “katrca” for charity.
Now the story has taken a new turn, though some things remain unclear. It was said to have been a private event of the Golden Ribbon Institute, co-organised with the shrine at Brezje. We can agree with what one of our readers wrote (we published her letter HERE): that every church, including the one at Brezje, is open to everyone. But the event also involved unnecessary sentimentality that could have been avoided. So too the emphasis on how Zlatko the puppy would “protect children with cancer.” Many found this troubling, arguing that a stuffed toy cannot serve as some kind of amulet – least of all in the middle of a Christian shrine.
The rector of the shrine explained to us as follows …
The emotional backlash against the Franciscan friars’ openness was, of course, unnecessary. A year ago, we published an interview in Demokracija with Father Robert Bahčič (HERE), in which he did not express any particular fondness for the current ruling elite. One might therefore conclude this was simply a rather odd misunderstanding. Naturally, we turned to him for more information about the September 12 event. The official press release is published in full HERE, and everyone can form their own opinion; there is no need to repeat it here.
In response to our request for more details, Father Bahčič told us that the story began at a concert on May 22, when Enja gave Zlatko the puppy in gratitude: “The next day she had a check-up. She had no hair, but there were no more metastases. Her mother can confirm this. By Friday, her hair was already starting to grow back.” A report of healing, then, and a testimony – something very positive, and proof that God does hear many prayers for healing. At Brezje, special Masses for cancer patients are also celebrated, a practice started by Tomaž Kunstelj, Slovenia’s former ambassador to the Holy See. Such Masses are held in many places across Slovenia at least once a month, for example in Celje (St. Cecilia’s), where relics of St. Leopold Mandić, the patron saint of cancer patients, are also displayed.
Father Robert further explained that Tina Gaber was invited by children with cancer and by the Golden Ribbon Institute. Rebeka Dremelj was also invited. Regarding his encounter with the Gaber–Golob couple, he said: “I gave them both a cross, a Slovenian rosary, and told them that the prayer of the rosary is the salvation of the world. I also told them so they would know that every second Friday of the month we pray and celebrate Holy Mass for oncology patients, their families, and the medical staff. The next day we received several thank-you notes for the Mass and also two requests for more information about St. Leopold Mandić, the patron of cancer patients. … We must hold on to Jesus and not be hostile to anyone; we have no right to send anyone to hell or to threaten them.”
Whether the story truly touched them is, of course, another question. What is clear from Father Robert’s reply is that the Gaber–Golob couple’s invitation was primarily the result of the Golden Ribbon Institute’s work. He simply did what he could in such circumstances. How the circles around Golob later exploited this, however, was evidently not his concern.
It was clearly a deliberate act
When all is said and done, it becomes clear that the deep state, in a sly and perfidious way, used a nongovernmental organisation with an important humanitarian mission to slip the Church the scapegoat and orchestrate not only unnecessary but downright scandalous politicisation of an event connected with easing the suffering of those most afflicted – children whose youth has been all but stolen by serious illness. Indeed, it is difficult, when faced with the visit of the “lady with a big heart,” as Tina Gaber is portrayed, to set aside her usual public reactions and also the political agenda of Golob’s government, which not only pushes policies toward religious communities increasingly reminiscent of the pre-1990 era, but also legalises the poisoning and killing of patients. In the context of children suffering from cancer, this is no small matter. The presence of this couple, and their “humanitarian” self-promotion in the style of turbofolk politics, with photo ops for social media, was nothing more than saccharine, fake PR for political purposes. Particularly insulting to children with cancer and their parents, who became collateral damage of this politico-celebrity show – especially considering that the coalition’s so-called “assisted suicide” law in effect legalises the killing of sick children. Do parents really want that? Perhaps they did not perceive it this way, but poor awareness of the government’s policies clearly played a role.
At least in theory, it is possible that the Gaber–Golob couple could have been moved to conversion by this event – and might then immediately push for the withdrawal of the controversial law. But so far, there is no sign of this. Perhaps a surprise will come later? We shall see.
Had the Gaber–Golob couple not been present, the event would likely have passed without such strong emotional reactions. But these reactions happened and were in many ways exaggerated and (needlessly) insulting to the Franciscans managing the shrine. Yet the reactions were deliberately triggered – sparked by media coverage. Rational responses were scarce; emotions dominated. This is understandable, especially since with young cancer patients the emotional element is always at the forefront. And that was exactly the purpose of the scapegoat play. Everything had been planned in advance, probably due at least to the naivety of the event’s organisers. The aim was to sow division among Catholics and to deepen the rift between the Church and the current opposition, which supports a referendum against euthanising patients. It is no coincidence that this all happened the day before the NSi congress (where the party elected a new president and has lately also been targeted by the deep state) and just two days after the shocking murder of American conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. It is clear that Gibanje Svoboda party is desperate to force another election victory. But it is no longer the fresh “new faces” party – it has left behind scorched earth. That is why it now seeks to sow as much division as possible among its opponents. This was the main motive for politicising such events. To put it more bluntly: the “Golob’s nest” literally dumped on Brezje and on young patients. They did not deserve this, no matter how good the stated intentions.
It is also true that in such stories it is crucial to put things in their proper place, rationally, so as to prevent conflict-mongers from achieving their goals.
In this week’s issue of Demokracija you will also read an article asking whether Tina Gaber is becoming a new Queen Jezebel – the biblical figure, pagan wife of Israelite King Ahab, with whom she committed grave crimes, from the murder of Naboth the vineyard-owner to the persecution of the prophet Elijah.
