Zagreb (IKA) – On January 24, the regular annual meeting of the members of the Croatian Conference of Bishops and the Bosnian-Herzegovina Conference of Bishops was held at the residence of the archbishop of Zagreb. Presiding were the metropolitan archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops; and the bishop of Banja Luka, Mons. Franjo Komarica, president of the Bosnian-Herzegovian Conference of Bishops.

In the introductory remarks, the two presidents of the bishops’ conferences emphasized the great significance of these regular annual meetings for strengthening the profound ecclesial ties of the Croatian people who live in the two countries. Particular attention was devoted to questions and problems regarding Croatian foreign pastoral missions.

Reports were submitted regarding the new circumstances in which priests, deacons, nuns and other pastoral workers in Germany have found themselves. The Catholic Church in Germany, faced with new challenges in pastoral work and the demands of the restructuring of existing organizational entities, is attempting to include all those in spiritual counseling who up to now have been involved in religious ministries to members of individual national groups. This will contribute to more profound ecclesial relationships within individual dioceses as well as the cultural enrichment of these milieus with the various traditions that belong to Christian Europe. Proposals were also considered regarding the opening of new Catholic missions in the world, particularly in the United States and Scandinavia.

Emphasis was placed upon mutual cooperation in various areas between the Church in Croatia and the Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bishops from Bosnia and Herzegovina spoke about the conditions and circumstances under which the Catholic Church must operate in that country, confronted by many difficulties and problems, especially concerning the preservation of identity and achieving equal rights with the other citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was concluded that much patience and perseverance are needed, although some legal rulings raise hopes that matters are moving in a positive direction. Despite all setbacks, the bishops emphasized the hope and power of the faith of the Catholics in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This faith encourages them to persevere in the march toward the future, to which they bring the heritage of the many centuries of the Catholic religious and cultural presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The bishops of Bosnia and Herzegovina pointed out that the brotherly solidarity of the dioceses of the Croatian Conference of Bishops as well as visits by bishops and the faithful from Croatia are very meaningful because they reinforce mutual bonds and reassure them that are not abandoned or alone. Every sign of concern coming from Croatia provides them with encouragement to endure the contradictions and misfortunes of the time and place in which they live. This also helps them preserve the religious and national identity, which has often been called into question in recent times because certain solutions and strategies are being imposed that do not take into account the tradition and culture of the Croatian nation that has lived in Bosnia and Herzegovina for many centuries.

A separate topic was mutual cooperation in the area of the translation of Church documents. The bishops concluded that it is necessary to produce the best possible translations in order to further the endeavors of the Church throughout today’s world.

The meeting, which concluded with a dinner held at the residence of the archbishop of Zagreb, was attended by all the bishops of both bishops’ conferences except the bishop of Varaždin, Mons. Marko Culej; the auxiliary Bishop of Đakovo and Srijem, Mons. Đuro Gašparović; and the bishop of Mostar-Duvno and the apostolic administrator of Trebinje-Mrkan, Mons. Ratko Perić. The apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Francisco-Javier Lozano, participated in the first portion of the meeting.