The Balkans: the challenge of co-existence” “” “

Bosnia, Croatia, Albania. In union with the Pope to appeal through fasting and prayer for peace in the world, especially where it is most threatened: in Afghanistan and in the Holy Land. As the fast day on 14 December approaches, we made a journey through the Churches of the Balkans where the war has sown death and destruction, and where the future of these countries depends on co-existence between the different peoples. Support for the Pope’s initiative has been expressed also by the Catholic communities of countries like Bulgaria where Catholics form only 1% of the population. Sarajevo: “we ask for the strength of forgiveness”. Events, meetings and round tables, from now to the end of the year, to “stimulate public opinion on the issues of peace, co-existence and partnership between the various religious communities, and to revive the commitment to human rights”. That is how the city of Sarajevo – which for four years (from September 1991 to 1995) lived in a state of terror and under the constant threat of snipers – is supporting the initiative launched by the Pope for 14 December. The city’s response to the Pope’s plea is described for us by Msgr. Pero Sudar, auxiliary bishop of Sarajevo: “We’ve sent a circular to all the parishes of the city – he explains– to inform them of the Day of fasting. We consider it an important initiative to reawaken in consciences a commitment to peace, especially here in Sarajevo where we experienced what war really means and what it means when there is a peace that has no roots in daily life”. Following the US strikes in Afghanistan, “in Sarajevo too the situation has deteriorated because the Moslems who live here – Msgr. Sudar explains – feel themselves close to their brothers in the Islamic countries. We must do our utmost to prevent people interpreting what is happening in the world as a clash between religions”. On the 14 December, the city of Sarajevo will pray in particular to implore from God the strength of forgiveness, because “without forgiveness, each presupposition for peace is destined to fail. Of course, evil must be combated, but we must never respond to a wrong we have suffered by an act of revenge. Every act of revenge we commit – says Bishop Sudar – is a seed sown for yet worse evils to come”. Croatia: “liberating hearts from hatred and enmity”. The bishops of Coatia, too, have backed the Pope’s appeal. In a message to the diocese, the archbishop of Zagreb, Josip Bozanic, recalls “the terrible sufferings that are putting so many of our brothers and sisters in the world sorely to the test: the thousands of innocent victims, the countless people forced to abandon their homes for unknown destinations, the women, old people and children whose life is threatened by cold and hunger”. “Whoever truly accepts the word of the goodness and grace of God – writes the archbishop – must exclude from his heart every sentiment of hatred and enmity”. Archbishop Bozanic has appealed to the faithful to devolve their offerings to Caritas. Msgr. Antun Skvorcevic, bishop of Pozega, also recalls the “terrible threats” to peace that have emerged since 11 September. To coincide with the prayer for peace of religious leaders at Assisi, on 24 January, all the parishes of the diocese have been called by the bishop to unite themselves with the initiative and to dedicate to this intention also the closing day of the week of prayer for Christian unity, on 25 January. Albania: “everyone is created in the image of God”. A letter addressed to all the dioceses and a national appeal through the media: that’s how the Albanian Church is spreading the Pope’s invitation for the 14 December among the population. In the letter, the fact that the date of the initiative coincides with the end of Ramadan is especially emphasized: sign of a “desire for union between Christians and Moslems, who together ask the merciful God for true peace for all peoples in respect for the rights of each”. In Albania, where the majority of the population is Moslem, the Church – says Msgr. Angelo Massafra, archbishop of Scutari and president of the Albanian Episcopal Conference – will pray on the 14 December to “ask the Lord for the grace that all believers in the one God, Jews, Christians and Moslems, may live in peace, in Albania, in the Holy Land, in Afghanistan. For anywhere a suffering human person exists, there must also be a commitment to peace”. Maria Chiara Biagioni