"After World War II about 100,000 Catholic Germans were expelled from or killed in the Djakovo and Srijem diocese, which stretches from Slavonski Brod (in Croatia) to Zemun (in Serbia). Those were genocidal and criminal decisions the former (Communist) authorities kept quiet about for years. We will do all we can never to allow such evil to happen again," the bishop said.
The service was attended by around 100 ethnic Germans who had found refuge in Germany, Austria and overseas countries after having been expelled from their homes after World War II by Yugoslav Communist authorities.