Sarajevo, (IKA/KTA) – On February 3, the Archbishop of Vrhbosna (Sarajevo), Cardinal Vinko Puljić, received the Grand Mufti of the Islamic community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Husein Kavazović. Grand Mufti Kavazović was accompanied by his deputy, Mufti Husein Smajić, and the director of foreign affairs for the Rayasat of the Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Razim Čolić. The meeting was also attended by Cardinal Puljić’s associate, the chancellor of the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna, Mladen Kalfić. At the beginning of the meeting, Cardinal Puljić congratulated Grand Mufti Kavazović on his decisive and very much needed words condemning extremism and terrorism, saying that they had a very positive response in the media and entire community of Europe.

Grand Mufti Kavazović told Cardinal Puljić that he was pleased by the announcement of the visit by Pope Francis to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and added: “The leaders of the Catholic Church are dear guests in Bosnia and Herzegovina. So it was when we were visited by the great friend of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Pope John Paul II, and the same applies for Pope Francis. This is not just my opinion but that of the entire Islamic community in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina are especially pleased by his attitude and his commitment to the general good of mankind. His major emphasis has been concern for the poor and abandoned, which should be a universal value for all,” said Grand Mufti Kavazović, among other things.

Deputy Grand Mufti Smajić welcomed the announcement that the heads of the religious communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina would meet together with Pope Francis. Cardinal Puljić said that in the creation of the program for the Pope’s visit, an attempt will be made to hold this meeting, which could probably be at the Apostolic Nunciature.

During the cordial conversation, the participants exchanged views on the current state of the religious communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was pointed out that after the establishment of the new government, particularly the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the final resolution of issues such as the return of property taken from the Church and religious communities, the resolution of the issue of religious holidays at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole, and the resolution of health and retirement insurance for religious officials. “These are only some of the things that we have been promised for the last twenty years, and we shall require the new government to finally fulfill these promises,” the meeting participants jointly concluded.

Toward the end of the meeting, Grand Mufti Kavazović thanked Cardinal Puljić for receiving him and his associates but also the entire Catholic Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina for “its great commitment to the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for its work concerning reconciliation and improving interpersonal relationships.” He then congratulated Archbishop Puljić on the twenty years of his cardinalship and presented him with a gift. Finally, he said: “The Islamic community in Bosnia and Herzegovina is at your disposal for all-around assistance to make the Pope’s visit as well organized and dignified as possible.” Cardinal Puljić expressed his gratitude “for support and openness in this great project before us.”