Message from the bishops of B-H to the priests, clergy, nuns and the faithful

TRUE PEACE MAY ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY TRUE PEACEMAKERS

As a result of the Synod held in Zagreb on 13 - 14 March 1995, we forward this pastoral message to you dear brothers and sisters, priests, clergy, nuns and God’s entire faithful in the region of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Once again, as we have done each time we have had the opportunity to meet, we wish to let you know that we are reunited with you in our faith, hope, suffering, Christian solidarity and love towards God and our neighbours.

The current war circumstances in the regions of our various dioceses has prevented any normal life on our ancient land. More than half our parishes have been destroyed and deserted, with our faithful strewn across the entire world. Many of our priests, clergy and nuns have been denied the right to live in their own parishes and convents, let alone to be able to function in their normal duties.

All these are painful facts which are pressing members of our dioceses as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ’s Church, who sympathise with us. We are conscious that we are experiencing our own ‘Way of the Cross’ and ‘Holy Week’, but that at the same time the world’s Saviour, Christ is with us. This awareness gives us the strength not to collapse in spirit nor to doubt in God’s hope and comfort despite being in the ‘Garden of Gethsemane’. Christ clearly told his followers, “A servant is not greater than his lord! If they banish me they will banish you as well” (Jn 15:20). He also let us all know that in this world of sin we would constantly be tormented but that we should not fear it because he had overcome the world (Jn 16:33).

We thank all those who have remained faithful to Christ’s commandments, especially his commandment of love and forgiveness. “In this way we best discard the temptations put before us by the devil himself, the father of lies and killer of men” (Jn 8:44). In this we contribute to Christ’s spirit and the strengthening of his kingdom, his truth, justice, love and peace.

While we forward our humble prayers to God our Lord to raise the righteous and stop our suffering, at the same time we consider it our duty to ask all domestic and international political factors to stop the suffering of innocent people and to finally find a just solution to this tragic war in our homeland. We are aware that true peace can be achieved primarily by those people who carry that peace in their hearts and consciences. For this reason we invite you all to tirelessly plea with Christ, the holy peacemaker to enlighten those dark consciences and to turn about those hearts poisoned with selfishness, greed, hate and other evils.

We ask you all, dear brothers and sisters, our priests, clergy, nuns and our dear people in God to unite your daily suffering during this period of Lent with Christ the sufferer through whom all our crosses will flourish with life necessary for our entire Church and for eternal peace in Heaven.

We ask for God’s blessing for you all, either in our homeland or elsewhere in the world in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Zagreb, 14 March 1995

Cardinal Vinko Puljic, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Vrhbosna
Msg. Franjo Komarica, Bishop of Banja Luka
Msg. Ratko Peric, Bishop of Mostar-Duvno & Administrator of Trebinje-Mrkanj
Msg. Pero Sudar, Assistant Bishop of Sarajevo

Next: “WE PRAY FOR THE INNOCENT VICTIMS OF THIS CENTURY IN OUR REGION”