A letter from the bishops of Bosnia-Herzegovina on the occasion of the Pope#!s Day, October 26 The bishops of Bosnia-Herzegovina decisively respond to the Pope#!s appeal made in April of this year during his visit to Sarajevo

Sarajevo, October 26, 1997 (IKA) — “God#!s dawn is already among us,” is the title of a letter from the bishop#!s of Bosnia-Herzegovina, published on the occasion of the Pope#!s Day, October 26, that contains directives for implementing the message by the Holy Father to the Catholics in Bosnia-Herzegovina during his visit to Sarajevo on April 12 and 13 of this year.
With the end of the war, it is necessary to work on building a just peace, and the first task of the bishops is the healing of the hearts of those who suffer, as well as those who hate, and promote a culture of peace among all people, according to the letter in reference to the Pope#!s appeal to the bishops. The Pope also called upon the bishops to raise a prophetic voice and point out violence, expose injustice, call evil by its proper name and with all legal means defend the communities entrusted to them. The bishops also referred to their task of a new evangelization that should promote further renewal of elan. The members of the Conference of Bishops of Bosnia-Herzegovina also remind the Church in Bosnia-Herzegovina, no matter how poor it may be, not to forget the poor who knock at its door, and the bishops will particularly provide for them.
“The Pope truly appeals to our priesthood in a fatherly manner, recommending to them that in the future, even at the cost of great sacrifices, they should remain with their entrusted flocks, be the bearers of hope and the clear witnesses to Christ#!s peace,” said the bishops about the Pope#!s message to priests, especially mentioning the Pope#!s reference to the priests who have been imprisoned, killed or wounded. The pope appealed to all priests monks, nuns, theology students and seminarians to be decisive in the condemnation of every form of intolerance and persecution that has its roots in ideologies that trample the individual and his inalienable dignity. The bishops also point out that the fundamental message of the Holy Father to the faithful and all citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina is encouragement and consolation.
The bishops of Bosnia-Herzegovina, as stated in the letter, consider it their duty to proclaim the Pope#!s appeal and the saving inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The bishops will devote particular efforts to building and consolidating Church unity, forgiveness, mutual reconciliation and reconciliation with others, greater respect to God#!s honor and God#!s laws, the safeguarding of rights, freedom and the dignity of every person.
The letter on the occasion of the Pope#!s day was signed by Archbishop Cardinal Vinko Puljić and Bishops Franjo Komarica, Ratko Perić and Pero Sudar