In the premises of the Archbishop’s residence in Sarajevo on Monday 23rd of September, the archbishop of Vrhbosna metropolitan, Msgr. Tomo Vuksic met with the delegation of the American Bishops’ Conference led by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich as reported by the website of the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna.

The meeting was attended by vicar general Msgr. Sladan Cosic, Vrhbosna archdiocese economist Most Reverend Vladimir Pranjic and the spokesman of the Vrhbosna archdiocese Reverend Drazen Kustura. Cardinal Cupich was accompanied by Mons. Jeffrey Monforton, the auxiliary bishop of Detroit who is also the chairman of the Subcommittee for Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe and Jeniffer Healy, assistant director of the Office for Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe.

In a cordial conversation, Archbishop Vuksic thanked the representatives of the American Bishops’ Conference for their solidarity and concrete help during the implementation of various projects in the Vrhbosna Archdiocese. He informed them about the current situation in the diocese with strong emphasis on the challenges it faces. He introduced them to pastoral projects as well as plans for the future.

Cardinal Cupich pointed out that the American Bishops’ Conference helps a total of 28 countries around the world. He also mentioned that he too has Croatian roots and there is a large number of priests that come from Central and Eastern Europe. He considers it necessary to provide assistance to the Church in these areas that are within their capabilities.

The delegation of the American Bishops’ Conference is on a multi-day visit to Bosnia and Hercegovina. First, they were in the Mostar-duvno diocese and in the coming days they will visit several institutions in the Vrhbosna Archdiocese which includes; Theological Seminary, the John Paul II Youth Pastoral Centre, Catholic School Center St. Joseph, Pastoral and Social Centre of St. Joseph in Gromiljak, the Archbishop’s Seminary in Travnik and the sanctuary of St. John in Podmilacje. They will also visit Stadler’s Orhpanage “Egipat” and meet with the apostolic nuncio of Bosnia and Hercegovina Msgr. Francis A. Chullikat. They will conclude their stay in Bosnia and Hercegovina with a visit to the Banjaluka Diocese.

KTA