Banja Luka, (IKA) – The bishops of the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina sent a message of condolence to the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, on the death of Msgr. Vladimir Stanković.

“Upon learning of the death of Msgr. Vladimir Stanković, for many years in charge of Croatian pastoral ministry in foreign lands, we, the members of the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina, feel the need and duty at our session to express our sympathy, in faith and human compassion, to you, the relatives of the deceased and the Archdiocese of Zagreb. We thank God for all the good that the late Msgr. Stanković tirelessly achieved for his Church and the Croatian nation throughout the world, and we commend his soul to the goodness and fatherly mercy of God. We firmly believe that the Good Shepherd of human souls will receive him and reward him with eternal bliss for all the good that he accomplished through divine grace.
We cannot and do not want to forget that during difficult times, Msgr. Stanković, with knowledge and prudence, steadily and patiently built the pastoral ministry to Croats in foreign lands and it is largely to his credit that this branch of our homeland Church is today one of the best organized and most productive in the world. We believe that the spiritual fruits of his priestly work are deeply incorporated into the living organism of the Church and nation, and will remain our lasting heritage.
United in prayer with all who are expressing their gratitude for the life and priestly activity of Msgr. Stanković with their physical presence, we send you and all of them our fraternal greetings,” stated the message of condolence signed by the President of the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Archbishop Vrhbosna, Cardinal Vinko Puljić; the Bishop of Banja Luka, Msgr. Franjo Komarica; the Bishop of Mostar-Duvno and the Apostolic Administrator of Trebinje-Mrkan, Msgr. Ratko Perić; the Military Bishop, Msgr. Tomo Vukšić; the Auxiliary Bishop of Vrhbosna, Msgr. Pero Sudar; and the Auxiliary Bishop of Banja Luka, Msgr. Marko Semren.