BANJA LUKA BISHOP ON POPE'S VISIT

BANJA LUKA, June 20 (Hina) - After the beatification of Ivan Merz by Pope John Paul II on Sunday, the city of Banja Luka will no longer be viewed as it was in the 1990s, Banja Luka bishop Franjo Komarica said for the city diocese's press agency. #L# "The Pope arrives in Banja Luka for a visit to Catholics, but there are no Catholics in Banja Luka. Over the past years, they have been denied the right to return to their homes," said Komarica. He recalled that of some 40,000 pre-war Catholics in Banja Luka, only 3,400 lived in the city today. Of some 80,000 pre-war Catholics on the territory of today's Bosnian Serb entity, only some 7,000 remained, Komarica said. "Seven years after Dayton, all those who are responsible for that cannot consider themselves just, humane and honest," Komarica said. Komarica believes that reactions of local politicians and a large part of the local media showed that their engagement in organising the event was fair and well-intentioned. "The Pope's visit and his transcending all artificial barriers and walls of mistrust and animosity among peoples opens the doors to a victory of unity, respect, reconciliation and trust." (hina) rml