BANJA LUKA, June 22 (Hina) - Immediately upon his arrival at Banja Luka for his second pastoral visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Pope John Paul II on Sunday forwarded a strong message of support to the building of peace and consolidation
of stability in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He wished that Bosnia's aspiration to become an integral part of a united Europe be met with a positive response.
BANJA LUKA, June 22 (Hina) - Immediately upon his arrival at Banja
Luka for his second pastoral visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Pope John
Paul II on Sunday forwarded a strong message of support to the
building of peace and consolidation of stability in Bosnia-
Herzegovina. He wished that Bosnia's aspiration to become an
integral part of a united Europe be met with a positive response.
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In a greeting speech in Croatian at Banja Luka airport, at which
Bosnia's top officials led by the Bosnian Presidency's three
members gathered, the pope said he was grateful to God for having
made it possible for him to once again, after six years, visit a
country of peoples so close to his heart.
The Holy Father forwarded a special greeting to Banja Luka Bishop
Franjo Komarica and representatives of the Serb Orthodox, Jewish
and Islamic communities in Bosnia.
Stressing he was deeply aware of the hardships the peoples in
Bosnia-Herzegovina were going through, the pope said: "I am with
you and I ask of the international community, which has already done
a lot, to continue being close to you so you could achieve a state of
complete security."
As the fundamental requirement for building a new society, Pope
John Paul II pointed to the need of spiritual revival without which
it would not be possible to heal the wounds of war and achieve inner
cleansing.
"The root of every good and every evil is in the heart. Only there
can one make a change which will enable a change in the social
tissue," he said.
The pope sent a special message to Bosnia's political leaders
urging them not to abandon the implementing of necessary changes in
society, to which the Catholic Church would contribute.
The Holy Father wished that Bosnia receive a positive reply "to its
aspiration to be an integral part of a united Europe in an
atmosphere of progress, freedom and peace".
The chairman of the Bosnian Presidency, Borislav Paravac, said the
pope's arrival in Banja Luka was a special event for all in Bosnia-
Herzegovina, while for the city and Republika Srpska it was also an
opportunity to affirm their wish for tolerance among peoples.
Paravac pointed to Bosnia's national consensus that its place was
in the European Union.
"We, thus, view your pastoral visit also as a confirmation of our
orientation towards the European way and as encouragement for us to
reach that goal," Paravac said.
"I am convinced that a joint message of peace, love and spiritual
and human values will be sent from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Republika
Srpska and Banja Luka today," he stressed.
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