Sarajevo, May 10, 2000 (IKA) — The secretary of the Holy See for relations with foreign governments, Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, is visiting the Church in Bosnia-Herzegovina from May 6 to 12. After his arrival on Saturday, May 6, Archbishop Tauran celebrated a Mass at the Vrhbosna School of Catholic Theology in Sarajevo, where he met with the teachers and students of that institution. On Sunday, May 7, Archbishop Tauran, the apostolic nuncio in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Giuseppe Leanzo, and over thrity priests concelebrated a Mass in the Sarajevo Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, led by Archbishop Cardinal Vinko Puljić. During the sermon, Archbishop Tauran made reference to the ecumenical-commemorative celebration being held that day at the Roman Colosseum, pointing out that since the very beginning the Church has always been a “Church of witnesses … Christ and the Church will always be ‘a sign that will be contradicted.’ You are those who must bear witness to the power and necessity of forgiveness … You Catholics in Sarajevo should be witnesses of the living Christ. You are not called upon to leave here but to remain and bear witness. You should be Christians of constant faith,” said Archbishop Tauran. On the same day, Archbishop Tauran also visited the Napredak Croatian Cultural Society in Sarajevo.
On the third day of his visit, on Monday, May 8, the secretary of the Holy See for relations with foreign governments visited the St. Joseph Catholic Scholastic Center in Sarajevo and met with members of the Interreligious Council of Bosnia-Herzegovina. At the meeting with the members of the Interreligious Council, Archbishop Tauran pointed out that in their joint efforts it is possible to see “a picture of yesterday’s and tomorrow’s Sarajevo — multireligious, multiethnic and multicultural … If we acknowledge that we are God’s children, then we acknowledge each other as brothers. When we examine various religions, in the foundations of each we see ‘do unto others what you would have others do unto you.’ Everything should be done for the rule of law to prevail and not the rule of might. This nation has the right to a life of peace. I am certain that you will never be happy if you are set in opposition to each other,” said Archbishop Tauran to the members of the Interreligoius Council of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Archbishop Tauran also promised the continued full support of the Holy Father for the continuation of essential interfaith dialogue in this area.