Ekumenski i dijaloški znakovi primata i sinodalnosti u papinskim porukama tijekom posjeta Bosni i Hercegovini i Hrvatskoj
Ecumenical and Dialogue Signs of Primacy and Synodality in the Popes’ Messages During Pastoral Visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia

Summary/Abstract: In the article, the author analyzes ecumenical and dialogue messages of the Popes who visited Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia between 1994 and 2015. There were seven visits: five by Saint John Paul II, three to Croatia (1994, 1998, and 2003), and two to Bosnia and Herzegovina (1997 and 2003); one by Pope Benedict XVI (Croatia 2011), and one by Pope Francis (Bosnia and Herzegovina 2015). A visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina by John Paul II in 1994 was scheduled but did not take place. Since all the speeches and messages were prepared for this visit, these are covered in this overview. Respecting and accentuating synodality as a way of acting by bishops and the entire Church, and invoking the authority of their primacy in Christ’s Church, and at a time of war in this country, the Popes called for the conflict to end and for further conflict to be prevented, for a just peace, for forgiveness and reconciliation among those who had recently fought against one another, and for leaders to take responsibility for delivering a just peace and prosperity to their people. The Popes urged people of faith to recognize what they had in common and to make a contribution on the basis of their faith, Catholics and Orthodox on the strength of their baptism and their faith in the Savior Jesus Christ, and together with them followers of Islam and the Jewish religion on the basis of the same faith in the Creator God. During their visits, the Popes especially emphasized strong ecumenical and dialogue messages and met with representatives of other Christian and religious communities. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, meetings with the Interreligious Council were highlighted, bringing together the most prominent representatives of the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, and the Islamic and Jewish religious communities. During his visit to Sarajevo in 1997, Pope John Paul II awarded the John XXIII international peace prize to four humanitarian organizations related to four religious communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Caritas of the Bishop’s Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dobrotvor from the Orthodox Church, Merhamet from the Islamic religious community, and La Benevolencia from the Jewish religious community. The faithful are especially called to peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation, and cooperation and solidarity are values on which the future of the people should be built. The author introduces these messages following the chronological order of the pastoral visits.

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