In full dignity” “

The Catholic Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrated the “Katholikentag” at Kupres on 19 July. The central event of the meeting was the eucharistic celebration presided over by Cardinal VinkoPuljic, with the participation of 8 bishops, 166 priests and 20,000 faithful. The apostolic nuncio of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Msgr. Santos Abril y Castelló, brought the greetings of the Pope to the faithful: “the Church throughout the world – he said – has a need for our witness in this country. We are responsible for the future and must give an example of the communion and renewal of Christian life”. The same appeal was also made by Cardinal Puljic: “Bear witness to your fidelity to God and to your Croat people! You are invited to be the people of hope. Only the cross of Christ can be Europe’s hope. Gathered today in this sacred place, we wish to pray for forgiveness; we wish to forgive everyone and ask for forgiveness. Our roots in this land are deep. We wish to remain here to live in full dignity”. The visiting bishops of the Croat, Austrian, Hungarian and Slovene Episcopal Conferences greeted the faithful at the end of the rite. In the course of the meeting the president of the Episcopal Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina Msgr. Franjo Komarica read out a “Proclamation” of the state of the Catholics in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a brief résumé of which we present below. Reinforcing our belonging. “Proud of the fact that our Croat people in Bosnia-Herzegovina have already belonged spiritually and culturally to central Europe for 14 centuries, we wish, with this solemn celebration, marking the 800th anniversary of our ancestors’ confession of faith at Bilino Polje and this year’s meeting with the Pope at Banja Luka, to reinforce our belonging to and renew our love for this land. We are conscious that at this time we must confirm, and in future realise, our mission by building with others the civilization of understanding and solidarity. We are convinced that it is possible to live in this country with sincerity, ecumenical openness and dialogue”. Guardians of identity. “Taught by history, recently through the miseries of war and the trials and tribulations of the post-war period, we recognise that the Catholic faithful cannot fulfil their historic mission – also towards the Catholic Church and society as a whole in Bosnia – without some fundamental conditions. We therefore proclaim, ask and pray that we be given the chance to safeguard our religious and national identity. We believe that the differences, that have so often caused misfortune to the inhabitants and peoples of this land, may be transformed into mutual enrichment. Encouraged by Pope John Paul II, the tireless messenger of the dignity of man and peace among peoples, we Catholics confirm our willingness to respect and accept the faithful of other Churches and other religious communities. We ask the representatives of the government and the international institutions for our national identity, and our cultural and educational institutions, to be respected. We ask that the government be truly representative and that our conditions of life be just. Only by the promotion of differences can we achieve a rich and harmonious communion”. The return of the Catholics. “We ask that convincing motives and valid reasons be given to Catholic faithful to induce them to return [to Bosnia] and help build the future of this land. To you, brothers and sisters, we appeal never to waver in your faith. The sufferings we have to endure at present are not insurmountable. The trials and tribulations of life may become sources of God’s blessing”.