Addressing members of the military and police forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina who were on pilgrimage to the medieval royal town of Bobovac in central Bosnia, Cardinal Puljic said that they had come there to pay reverence to their ancestors.
Bobovac, the most well known and fortified city of medieval Bosnia and Herzegovina, was built during the reign of Stjepan II, Ban of Bosnia, and was first mentioned in a document dating from 1349. Ban Stjepan II was buried in the Franciscan monastery in Visoko in 1353.
"Our roots are very deep, we must not that forget, as lately there are attempts to tailor this history to suit mythological and ideological needs," the cardinal said.
The pilgrimage and prayers for the homeland were held also to observe the anniversary of the death of Queen Katarina Kotromanic, who died on 25 October 1478 in Rome,
The dignitary called on the international community to accept Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina without expecting them to change their religious and national identity.
Apart from pilgrims from Bosnia, also guests from Croatia and members of international peace forces from Austria, Germany and Hungary joined this pilgrimage.