A model of peace in the Balkans

An endless line of priests, approximately 1200, 36 world bishops and three cardinals: Vinko Puljic from Sarajevo, Theodore McCarrick from Washington and the special envoy of Pope Francis, the archbishop of Milan, cardinal Angelo Scola. Thousands of Catholics gathered on the morning of September 21st for the solemn Mass in the CIAIR stadium in Nis, the hometown of emperor Constantine, to celebrate an exceptional event: the 1700th anniversary of the Edict of Milan. Groups of faithful -mostly Catholics, as well as Orthodox and by-passers from the nearby park – arrived from Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania as well as from Austria and Italy. The celebration ceremony was attended, inter alia, by a delegation representing the Serbian Orthodox Church, by the mufti of Serbia, by representatives of the Protestant community and world Judaism. The Mass was broadcast live on the second channel of the Serbian national television for the first time in the history of the local Catholic Church. There also was a significant presence of national authorities: notably the president of the Republic Tomislav Nicolic and prince Aleksander Karagiorgievic, accompanied by several local mayors.Hope for the future. “To be gathered here together is an encouraging sign of reconciliation and hope for the future”, said cardinal Angelo Scola in his homily underlining the importance devoted by the Pope to the celebration. The Archbishop of Milan recalled “the painful and violent events that marked the recent history of these nations”. “The wounds of violence and war, enemies of humanity, are hard to heal. These wounds could become septic, spreading sadness, resentment and gloom in our daily lives”, His Eminence said. “Each religious faith is the source of unity – and not of conflict or division – among mankind”. “Only when ideology prevails, only when the primacy of God is abandoned, only then, does mankind gradually draw apart”, the Cardinal pointed out. The Edict of Milan, of which recurs the 17th centenary, “tells us that religious freedom ensures the establishment of peace and of renewed humaneness across plural societies”, said Cardinal Scola.Words striked a chord with participants. “In the past the Balkans were always described in negative terms”, said Miroliub Nicolic from Šabac, a town 50km from the border with Bosnia. In his opinion the meeting shows us that “peace and dialogue are possible”. Msgr. Dodë Gjergjij, apostolic administrator in Kosovo, said: “Our peoples have always yearned for tolerance and peace. But when political interests are at stake values are no longer deemed important”. “This is an opportunity for encounter between peoples”, remarked the president of the international bishops’ conference “Cyril and Methodius”, Msgr. Zef Gasci. Indeed, added the prelate, “the Edict promotes the rights not only of Christians but of mankind as a whole”. At the end of the celebration ceremony Serbian president Tomislav Nicolic, addressing Cardinal Scola, said: “In Serbia religious confessions live in peace and enjoy equal rights, just as they are equal before God”.Ecumenical encounter. “The ancient door of unity that had been closed for too long has been reopened”. With these words the archbishop of Belgrade Msgr. Stanislav Hocevar thanked Cardinal Scola for his ecumenical commitment in the meeting with Serbian Patriarch Irinej, on September 20. To this regard the Archbishop of Milan said that “with the leader of the Serbian Orthodox Church we concurred that new, thriving ecumenical energy is needed to bring the churches closer”. “It is a pity that a common celebration with the Orthodox Church could not be held – said the cardinal of Sarajevo, Vinko Puljic – but we ought to respect people’s freedom”. The solemn Orthodox celebration for the Edict of Milan will be held October 6, with the participation of four Orthodox patriarchs, Bartholomew, Cyril from Russia, Teophile from Jerusalem and the leader of Serbia’s Orthodox Church Irinej. Also Cardinal Scola figures among the invitees. At the end of the Mass the Archbishop of Milan drew close to the faithful in the stadium, bringing the embrace of the Pope. The crowd responded with a joyful welcome.