Bishop Komarica in Bihać after six years

Zagreb, 12.2. 1996. (IKA) – Banja Luka bishop Franjo Komarica got a permission from Serbian authorities in Banja Luka for ten days of pastoral visit to believers of Banja Luka diocese who had been displaced in Croatia and Croatian part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While he was crossing to Croatia at Dvor na Uni, several hundreds of believers of Banja Luka diocese and of its surrounding and persecuted Banja Luka priests and local priests have welcomed the bishop. Bishop Komarica said, in his interview, to the present journalists that the pressure of Serbian authorities at Banja Luka diocese is weakening, lately. He also said that it was the first announcement of peace. The same day, bishop Komarica celebrated the Mass at Šaša and Blinjski Kut where several hundreds of believers persecuted Banja Luka and local believers took part. The next day, bishop Komarica visited Vojniæ, Vrginmost and Tušilović where he celebrated the Mass also for several hundreds of believers. In the evening, bishop Komarica with Zagreb Archbishop Franjo Cardinal Kuhariæ concelebrated the solemn Mass on the occasion of 36th anniversary of the death of God#!s servant Alojzije Cardinal Stepinac at Zagreb Cathedral.
Bishop Komarica visited Bihaæ, a city of his diocese, after six years, on Sunday, 11th February. Croats from Bihać and neighborhood, jeopardized in Serbian aggression, met him there. During the Eucharist celebration, at St. Antonio of Padua church, bishop Komarica expressed the joy that, what he was waiting more then six years for, became true. “The reason I could not came to visit you are well known to you. I thank you that you have kept Christianity at these territories, and you have survived this evil and imposed war”, said Banja Luka bishop Franjo Komarica to the gathered believers.