Chairman Bevanda at Festive Mass for Beatification of Pope Paul VI – Meeting with Holy See Secretary of State Pietro Parolin

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH Vjekoslav Bevanda attended, amongst thousands of believers, religious and political leaders from throughout the world, who gathered at the St. Peter Square in Vatican, for a mass, celebrating the beatification of Pope Paul VI. 

Pope Francisco led the service of proclaiming of blessed the Head of Catholic Church in time period between 1963 and 1978, marking the end of the two-week Synod of the Catholic Church. Pope Paul VI was an extremely modest man and is considered to be one among role models of incumbent Pope Francisco, who often recalls him in his addresses. Today’s festive mass was attended by former Pope Benedict XVI.

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH Vjekoslav Bevanda met in Vatican with Secretary of State of the Holy See Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and briefed him of current political developments in BIH, especially in view of BIH’s progressing towards the European Union.

Chairman Bevanda thanked to the Holy See for everything it does for BIH, especially for a prompt reaction and assistance extended in rehabilitation from aftermaths of catastrophic floods which affected our country this May.

The Secretary of State was interested in the position of Croats in BIH and for recently held elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, expressing his hope that the government will be established soon, allowing Bosnia and Herzegovina to move speedy forth at realising the goals towards joining the European family. He emphasised that the diversity as it is in BIH should be for all a source of enrichment and linking ad that he would always incite such joint endeavours in which the Catholic community in BIH would continue to contribute  to the enrichment  of entire BIH.

Chairman Bevanda said that the elections were a demonstration of culture of BIH citizens, since not a single incident took place. Cardinal Parolin took interest for the implementation stalemate of the Basic Agreement between the Holy See and BIH, and Additional Protiocol to the 2006 Basic Agreement. Chairman Bevanda said that he hopes that soon after the authorities in BIH get formed, a law on religious freedoms, as one among the Basic Agreement items, will be again in the parliamentarian procedure, this time getting needed consent, as there will not be those who blocked the support.

The Secretary of State said he will visit BIH soon, which is a signal that Pope Francisco might visit BIH in future.

The meeting with the Secretary of State of the Holy See and solemn mass was attended by BIH Ambassador in Vatican Slavica Karačić.

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