Security measures increase

Sarajevo is preparing for the reception in full security of Pope Francis. More than fifty thousand faithful from all over Bosnia-Herzegovina and other countries in the region have so far registered to attend the Mass that Bergoglio will celebrate in the capital on June 6 next, as recently made known by the Archbishop of Sarajevo, Cardinal Vinko Puljic. Monsignor Pero Sudar, auxiliary bishop of Sarajevo, is in these days in Switzerland to attend a European meeting on Islam and radicalization, promoted by CCEE. The recent attack against the police station in Zvornik, in eastern Bosnia, and clashes last weekend in Kumanovo, Macedonia, have increased attention on security ahead of the Pope’s visit. Maria Chiara Biagioni interviewed him for Sir Europe. Your Excellency, is there a high risk of attacks during the Pope’s visit? “In 1997, the day before the arrival of Pope John Paul II, explosives were found under the bridge in Sarajevo where the motorcade was expected to pass. Fortunately, the bridge was cleared of mines. Thus a certain degree of risk and concern do remain while in today’s circumstances, especially in our area where the different worlds meet and in a country like ours where the war is over … but not over, tensions between these realms linger on. It is to be hoped that no one can consider the Pope as a target, since threatening him wouldn’t solve anything. Indeed, it would only further complicate existing problems”. What are you doing in concrete terms? “Each papal visit is accurately prepared and all security apparatus in Bosnia Herzegovina are actively taking part in the preparations. They are also present in the organizing committee”. Will the Pope be travelling on the “popemobile”? “I hope so, but we do not know. We are working to ensure all the conditions for the Pope’s visit to go well. You admire the audacity and courage of this pope and to admire its availability in spite of everything. Of course, speaking with the language and the logic of this world would not be advisable at this time to visit a society like ours. And this raises even more admiration for the Pope. I hope and pray. The first success of this visit is that nothing happens”. Why has the Pope decided to visit Sarayevo? “There is a key to interpret the visits of the Pope to date. The Popes considers important those realities that underwent or that are still experiencing difficult situations. Sarajevo and Bosnia Herzegovina were direly hit by the war twenty years ago and today the situation hasn’t changed. We were imposed a Constitution which is not a Constitution and a peace that isn’t peace. Moreover, the political situation, which the economic situation depends on, is a disaster. Unemployment rose to 48.6% and among youths is reach 70%. People are afraid of the future and for this reason many people, the youths in particular want to leave the Country. In 2014, 68thousand citizens left the Country, 11,600 of whom are Catholics. It’s a real and true exile”. How did the various ethnic groups in the Country welcome the Catholic Pope? “Ours is an extremely complex reality and it’s impossible to answer. The majority of the Orthodox doesn’t recognize the figure of the Pontiff. For the Muslims he’s the symbol of Christianity, thus a paradigm of the West. But we’re talking of Pope Francis and I think that the fact that he is seen in a positive key from many angles corresponds to the truth. Many people, if not everyone, like this Pope, because the population feels defended in its positions”. Which words is Sarajevo expecting from the Pope? “Many people would like there to be a Bosnia-Herzegovina without differences, and possibly also without religious differences because they believe that in this way it’s easier to build peace. But history has shown, also with blood, that it’s impossible to eliminate differences. The other temptation is to exasperate identities. Saying the right words isn’t easy. I am sure that the Pope will find the right and most effective way to encourage identity whilst opening up this identity to others”.