PRO MARIJI U VJERI NADI I LJUBAVI
WITH MARY IN FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE
Frank Zammit
interviews
The Most Reverend Lord Cardinal
His Eminence Vinko Puljic
Metropolitan Archbishop of Sarajevo
Cardinal Priest of Santa Chiara a Vigna Clara
Frank Zammit interviewing H.E. Cardinal Vinko Puljic
The congregation gathered in the Cathedral of Sarajevo applauded the Pope's decision.
Where were you when the Pope
announced your name for the cardinalate?
It happened on the 1st November
1994. One of his nuncios came to Sarajevo to hand me his apostolic letter that
stated that I was going to be created a cardinal. He celebrated mass in a
packed cathedral. Tactfully, he extended the Mass until noon when the pope would
announce the names of the prelates who would be created cardinals. As His
Holiness mentioned my name, the congregation gathered at the cathedral began to applaud and approve. I was only
forty nine years old and for the nine years to come I was the youngest member
of the College of Cardinals. This ordinary consistory was effected on the 26th
November 1994. Back home, I had to
return to Sarajevo like a thief in the
dead of night. The Pope was very close to me. Later on, he visited Sarajevo
between the 12th and the 13th April 1997. I remember the great speeches he
delivered to our nation.
The Holy Father with Cardinal Vinko Puljic and Bishop Franjo Komerica
Eminence, with what spirit should a cardinal of
the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church enter a conclave?
Personally my participation in the last
conclave was a great
experience for me. There, I felt the inner depth of Church spirituality. The Church of
the believer, of those who have hopes
in what God wants from
them. For me the conclave was the greatest spiritual exercise I have ever
attended. I was
very emotional in that historical procession,
as we were reaching the Sistine Chapel at
the time we were singing the hymns of the " Veni Creator" and litany
of the Saints. Also I felt excited at the time when I was taking the oath of secrecy , even at
the time I was praying alone in my private room. I returned to Sarajevo
enriched with this great spiritual experience. I cried with happiness.
Your Eminence, how did you discover your priestly vocation?
I was already an altar boy at elementary
school. I was still somewhat of a youngster when I felt that my country lacked freedom. So, at
the time, I could only speak with priests discretely in the sacristy. I
remember quite well one of these priests who was persecuted and sentenced to serve
time. When he returned to us in that the communist era he talked to us of his
experience in prison and about the many other painful experiences that had flowed
through there. He would talk to us in a very calm way and without the slightest
anger or sense of revenge. I admired him very much. He had a very beautiful
spirit. I said: "I want to live like this priest." After finishing my
elementary studies, the same priest once asked me this question: "Vinko do
you want to become a priest?" It was here that I requested the permission
and the blessings of my father to start attending the minor seminary. This
decision was not easy because at the time the communist authorities would not
be happy when they saw a family member entering any catholic seminary. Indeed
as I joined the seminary my father lost his work and all my family ended
without any security. I was so saddened for
the suffering of my family and I spoke with a priest who promised me his help
since in order to attend the seminary one
has to buy many things, such as clothing and books. I remember my father saying
to me: " Vinko, we are all left in the hands of God without the slightest
problem." After finishing my studies I was ordained priest in 1970. This
decision made me very happy!
Archdiocese of Vrhbosna (in blue)
What are the aims of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of
Sarajevo?
We wish to
remain in this country living in an organized Church. During the conflict
thousands of believers left as refugees and
after the end of the war they never returned to the country. Before the
war the archdiocese that I used to serve in
was of about five hundred and twenty eight thousand Catholics. Today,
the same archdiocese adds up to just two hundred thousand people. More than half of the Catholics remained
outside the country as refugees. This is because they do not see any viable
prospect of return. I am very concerned about this aspect and about renewing
and organizing from the Archdiocese I lead from scratch.
I have started
to nominate all parish priests anew. Even if in the absence of a church (building), even if there were no
housing, the parish priests started to return once again, from scratch! We need
to re-organise this archdiocese from this tiny community, from these small
parishes. I have embarked on an
education programme for young people even to educate themselves in Catholic
schools. These Catholic schools are covering all the ethnic groups. There are
five different centres in different cities. One finds, primary schools,
secondary and others. We have a youth centre that we named after Pope John Paul
II where there is even the service of a priest to lead this centre not only for
Sarajevo but also to drive different youth assistance projects.
We organize
minor and major seminaries because without the assistance of priests, the Church will have no future. It is of
utmost importance to educate young people to the priesthood. We are also organizing
some programs with the help of social projects through Caritas even for the
elderly to return to their homes. The Caritas is helping mostly in their
reintegration.
There are also projects
for lay people who assist the local church. I have also worked a lot on the
Pastoral and the Presbyterial Council. However the most important issue now is
to give a signal to Europe to ensure an equal dialogue where we are respected
as equals. I am very concerned because there is currently no sense of equality
both at the political and the economic
level. We would support a process for the creation of a normal state where we will
be equally respected.
The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II in Sarajevo - 1997
Do you have any
personal recollections on the Blessed Pope John Paul II?
My first souvenir of John Paul II is of the time I was
nominated for the archbishopric. I was apprehensive and did not want
to accept. The Holy Father insisted and said that it was important that I
accept. He told me: "I want to give this Church a head" In the end I
accepted. Thank God…..I had great dreams, especially that of organizing the local
Church, but this dream ended soon enough, after just one year because a tragic
four year war broke out. During the war, Holy Father John
Paul II was a great father, very close to our sufferings which he followed
assiduously. He invited me to Rome many times to speak of our situation.
He very much wanted to visit Bosnia-Herzegovina, particularly
Sarajevo to give a message of peace. In 1994, on the 8th of September when
everything was ready for his visit, the International High
Representative blocked the visit and the Pope could not come to
Sarajevo. He was very sad, but broadcast the speech he had prepared on Vatican
Radio and my people gathered to listen to it in the Cathedral. We listened all
together to the speech which the Holy Father gave in Croat. The Church was full
but all were silent, in tears, listening.
After the speech we met at the senior seminary for a
modest dinner during which I received a telephone call from the Holy
Father. But how can it be? I asked myself. The telephone lines don't work.
They're all blocked. The Holy Father had called on a support line. I couldn't
answer. I froze. I just said: "Holy Father thank you for everything".
Then I couldn't speak another word.
Most of the population of
Sarajevo is of Islamic faith. How do you connect with the Muslims?
Our Muslims are not Arabs. They are
Slavs. During the Balkan War there was a large influx of people from Arab
countries that have changed the mentality of our country. However, during the war and afterwards, I connected with them through dialogue. In fact
we, the four leaders of the different religions in our country, organised an
inter-religious council. Every year the presidency of this council will rotate
for a one year term of office on one of us. In this we found a way to make
achievements together through this council. This dialogue reflected the
political atmosphere. When politicians treated us equally, the dialogue would
extend. When there was no equality, this process was blocked. We are a
minority, but we are a constructive force that wishes to make a contribution to
the success of society.”
The signing of the Dayton accords
What are your long-term fears and hopes for your country?
The treaty of Dayton was saddening. It
was not feasible. It failed. This fact is problematic, because when the Croats were left with no rights, it brought about a great reduction
of faithful Catholics in the country. I was afraid that I would lose many of my faithful. I, as a Catholic bishop, always supported and shed
on my priests, religious and even on my faithful that ray of hope, of courage,
to live in a country with
prospects for a better future and with a firm commitment.
Between
1997 and 1999 His Eminence published two books. The first one was “Per amore
dell’uomo. Testimone di pace a Sarajevo” with the second one being
“Non cancellate il uomo. Un
grido di speranza da Sarajevo”. Eminence can you give me some reflections on
these publications?
I prepared these two publications, in
document form, during the military conflict. I always wished to pass them to
the public. I have dedicated this work to peace in the World. As a witness, I
published other works to show what my country had to endure during the war; what
the Catholic Church had done during this regional conflict. I spoke mostly on
her behalf to show the principles that we believe in, both during the war and even after. I spoke
on behalf of peace, defending human rights especially for those marginalized to
give them some hope for the future.
Sarajevo 2012 - 20 years away from the war. Religion and Culture in dialogue
Now that some time has passed
since the war, how can Sarajevo
be the future and not the
past of Europe?
Sarajevo must be realized as a City in
its reality, in which there lives a population formed of three different ethnic branches.
It is so unfortunate that in
recent times Sarajevo is developing as an exclusively muslim city. I am sad because
sometimes the Muslims do not see the effect of their words. They say that they
are tolerant but it is not the case. Other things must also be realised. Whoever
prevents Bosnia Herzegovina from living its own
multi-cultural reality is making
a very big mistake.
The destroyed Church of the Birth of The Blessed Mary in Sasina
What do you remember of the
aerial bombardments suffered by your city?
It was an ugly time, an ugly war, especially
when Sarajevo was besieged. About six hundred cannons were firing on Sarajevo.
Not every day but some time each day especially
during the nights. Every second a bomb
fell. For me it was a terrible thing especially psychologically. During the war
I used to organise youth gatherings to pray together
in my chapel. The prayer
used to strengthen us spiritually and give us the strength to continue hoping
for better times. This was
very important for us.
Cardinal Vinko Puljic with the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy
What is the position of the
Catholic Church in Bosnia Herzegovina about the possibility of the entry of the
country into the European Union?
I came to Brussels to pass a message. We have asked Europe
to assist Bosnia Herzegovina in creating a normal state. We have also asked Europe to help us in job creation and also to implement the
democratic principles for the creation of a normal state in our country.
Geographically we are Europeans. I am expecting a firm commitment from Europe at
the political and economic
level. Europe is a beacon of hope for us.
How can a Catholic and a Muslim live together
in Sarajevo?
I think that where there is equality it
can never be a problem to work together. People from both sides are accustomed
to congratulating each other when celebrating important religious events.
Most of the Muslims congratulate us for our Christmas and Easter festivities.
We reciprocate for theirs. This is important but also depends on the mass media
because the mass media sometimes provokes situations that are regarded as
negative. It also depends
on the political situation but all the people wish to live peacefully.
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