Banja Luka, June 22, 2003 (IKA) – At the beginning of the celebration of the Mass in Petrićevac, Banja Luka, the bishop of Banja Luka, Franjo Komarica, greeted the successor of the Apostle Peter, John Paul II, expressing his joy that the Holy Father had come once again to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bishop Komarica welcomed the Pope on behalf of the entire episcopate and all the priests, religious, and faithful of the Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic rites, and all the pilgrims. Bishop Komarica mentioned that the Mass was being attended by representatives of the political and cultural life of Banja Luka and Bosnia and Herzegovina, representatives of other religious communities, representatives of international communities and philanthropic organizations from all over the world.
Bishop Komarica cited remarks by the Pope that had made a profound impression upon the Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina: “You are not abandoned. We are with you. We will be even more with you!” He also spoke about the recent tragic war. Pointing out that Christianity has been present in the territory of Banja Luka since the first century, Bishop Komarica said that the Church in this territory had experienced dramatic moments, and many bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful had borne witness to their faith in Christ. During the past sixty years, this diocese has had the highest number of casualties among its priests and lay faithful of all the dioceses among the Croatian people. However, the Church has not returned evil for evil but has steadfastly attempted to return good to all, regardless of religious and national affiliations, even to those from whom they have endured evil, said Bishop Komarica. He pointed out that the Catholic Church in the Banja Luka region finds itself on the brink of complete extinction. Tens of thousands of Catholics from the territory of the Banja Luka Diocese and the Vrhbosna Archdiocese, and other regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, are still waiting to return to their parishes and homes. Only 3% of the Catholics expelled from the territory of the Banja Luka Diocese have returned, noted Bishop Komarica. The bishop of Banja Luka expressed the conviction that the uprooting of the Catholics from these territories was neither the will of God nor the will of the Church. “Although we as a diocese and metropolis are gravely wounded, we are trying to do good to all, steadfastly trying to achieve reconciliation based upon truth, justice and sincere forgiveness, forgiving others for their crimes and asking the forgiveness of others for the crimes committed by members of the Catholic Church by present and past generations, in our region which is our beloved and only homeland,” said Bishop Komarica in his address to the Pope. Bishop Komarica stated that the Catholics in Banja Luka and Bosnia and Herzegovina want to be precious links between the Christian West and East, trustworthy leaders of dialogue between Christians and Muslims, and builders of peace. In order for this to occur, their survival in these territories and a standard of living appropriate for persons of the 21st century must be assured. Bishop Komarica also expressed disappointment that “Europe still fails to recognize people and nations who are equal to its other inhabitants.” Bishop Komarica asked the Holy Father to be the voice “of the disenfranchised people here, Catholics and non-Catholics” and “help them stand on their own feet as a society and Church.” At the end of his greetings to the Holy Father, Bishop Komarica joyfully spoke about the beatification of Ivan Merz, a martyr and witness to the faith who was born in the Banja Luka Diocese.
In addition to approximately seventy thousand of the faithful from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and other countries, the Mass was also attended by representatives of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Goran Granić and Tomislav Vidošević, the ambassador of the Republic of Croatia in Sarajevo and the general consul in Banja Luka.

The Beatification of Ivan Merz
Banja Luka, June 22, 2003 (IKA) – On June 22, Pope John Paul II beatified the Servant of God Ivan Merz at a Mass held in Petričevac, Banja Luka. The petition for the proclamation of beatification was submitted by the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb, in whose archdiocese the process for beatification had been initiated. The postulator of the cause, Fr. Božidar Nagy, was present. The bishop of Banja Luka, Franjo Komarica, read a biography of Ivan Merz.
The Pope then uttered the ceremonial formula for beatification. From now on, it is appropriate to venerate Ivan Merz as truly holy or blessed and the date of his death, May 10, shall be commemorated. The relics of Ivan Merz were taken by a member of Christ the King in Zagreb, Slavica Tuškan.
Archbishop Bozanić thanked the Holy Father on behalf of all the Catholics of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bishop Komarica of Banja Luka, and all the bishops of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the proclamation of the beatification of the Croatian layman Ivan Merz.

Fr. Božidar Nagy on the Beatification of Ivan Merz
Banja Luka, June 22, 2003 (IKA) – Fr. Božidar Nagy, the postulator of the cause of Ivan Merz, could not contain his joy at the beatification ceremony in Banja Luka on June 22. He said that he was jubilant and thankful to God for allowing him to live to see the completion of the procedure for the beatification of Ivan Merz, to which cause he had devoted the past 31 years. “Half of the task has been completed. The other half is the preparation for canonization, which is the main goal,” said Fr. Nagy. “Beatification is the main task but it is always the goal for every candidate for the altar to be proclaimed a saint,” stated Fr. Nagy. “This is a great thing because the Pope not only proclaimed Ivan Merz a blessed one but came to Banja Luka because of him. This is something that could not have been dreamed of several years ago. Now a miracle has occurred and it can be added to Merz’s other miracles,” said Postulator Nagy. He also pointed out that Ivan Merz was the first lay person in the Church among the Croats to be elevated to the honor of the altar, and expressed the belief that he will not be the last, noting that this opens a period for the causes of other lay persons to be initiated. Fr. Nagy said that we have so many distinguished examples from the past and present who should be investigated. This should be seriously considered, because the Pope elevates lay persons to the altar in order to show the world that holiness can be achieved in any state of life. “Holiness is not reserved solely for ordained priests and religious. In every status and profession, it is possible to achieve the ideal of Christian perfection. Therefore, Merz’s beatification in our Church will have great significance,” said Fr. Nagy. Speaking of the importance of the beatification of Ivan Merz for the Banja Luka region, Fr. Nagy pointed out that it is a great balm for the wounds suffered and that this event for the Catholics of the Banja Luka region is truly encouraging. It will kindle hope in many hearts for a better future, for those who remained in Banja Luka, as well as those who may wish to return to their homes. He pointed out that on the occasion of the commemoration of Ivan Merz Day in Zagreb, Cardinal Vinko Puljić had said that Ivan Merz was a person who united people who had been separated due to the war. “I think that after this event, it will be easier for people in these territories to come together,” concluded Fr. Nagy.

Banja Luka: Conclusion of the Mass of Beatification
Banja Luka, June 22, 2003 (IKA) – At the conclusion of the celebration of the Mass, the Holy Father handed the young people a cross that was made by Branko Ivanković, urging them through the intercession of Ivan Merz to accept the Cross and bear witness to it with their lives. The cross contains a relic of the new blessed one, Ivan Merz, and will travel to all the parishes of the dioceses of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Holy Father then thanked all the bishops of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially the local bishop, Franjo Komarica, the priests, religious and all the lay faithful, government officials, civil and local authorities, as well as all who had made his visit to Banja Luka possible. The Pope greeted all the inhabitants of Bosnia and Herzegovina of all religious and national affiliations. He bestowed his blessing on them all and urged them to seek reconciliation, peace and justice. “Land of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Pope carries you in his heart and wishes you days of progress and peace,” said the Holy Father at the conclusion of the Mass for the beatification of Ivan Merz in Banja Luka.
Following this, the Pope was greeted by the representatives of the Jewish and Islamic communities, as well as the head of the Government Committee for the Preparation of the Visit by the Holy Father, Dragan Čović. The assembled faithful, led by a choir, sang a song to the Pope entitled Fala (Thank you).