The meeting of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference (ABC) and Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BKBiH), as well as the regular appointment of ABC, started with a Holy Mass on Sunday, March 4th, in the evening at the Sarajevo Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
The Eucharist in Croatian and Latin, with the sermon in German, was led by the President of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference, cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the Archbishop of Vienna. It was concelebrated by 20 bishops of ABC and BKBiH, the Provincial of the Franciscan Province of Bosna Srebrena, OFM Jozo Marinčić and a dozen priests of the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna.
Welcoming words to guests from Austria, to the Bishops of BK BiH, to the Apostolic Nuncios from Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina, msgr. Peter-Stephan Zurbriggen and msgr. Luigi Pezzuto, were said by the Archbishop of Vrhbosna, cardinal Vinko Puljić who emphasized that the presence of Austrian bishops is a sign of solidarity. “We can not forget the help from Austria that has helped us to survive the war, not just Catholics, but all people. After the war, support was provided for reconstruction”, said the Archbishop of Vrhbosna and personally thanked the Klagenfurt diocese for partnership.
Msgr. Pavo Jurišić led the sermon. Cardinal Schönborn expressed his contentment that the Vrhbosna Archdiocese expressed their willingness to be the hosts for ABC members. He pointed out to the strong ties between Austria and BiH, and then he spoke of previously read gospel about Jesus’ expulsion of merchants from Jerusalem.
”When we look at Jesus a bit better, he is making a whip out of ropes. It was not a sword. When St. Peter raised the sword and chopped of his enemy’s ear, Jesus told him to put the sword in the case. Who deals with the sword, dies from it. Did Jesus use violence in the temple? No one can be killed with ropes. Jesus did not hurt anybody. What he did was a symbolic act”, cardinal Schönborn said and pointed out that Jesus wanted people to cleanse their hearts from sin and not to make a marketplace of God’s house.
Then he recalled how in history in many occasions there was a wish to “improve” the world with various “cleansings”, and they all resulted in violence and millions of dead.
”Dear brothers and sisters, you here in Sarajevo experienced a cross. Together with your families you suffered a great deal of suffering in the war. And we bishops from Austria want to say that we are related to your suffering, and the suffering of your country. The cathedral has been renovated, but I can see many signs of war on the houses. The peace still has not begun to live, but we argue that the cross is a sign of peace. So we, bishops from Austria, thank you for the sign of faith. Because only on the cross there is resurrection. Three days after death, Jesus will resurrect. We pray that justice peace comes to your country”, said in his preaching cardinal Schönborn.
After the sermon, cardinal Puljić received the relics of blessed Karl of Austria from the hands of the direct descendant of the Habsburg family, Mrs. Camilla Habsburg Lothringen. The relics came to Sarajevo as a gift to the Vrhbosna Archdiocese, and will be kept in the Sarajevo cathedral.
Let us recall, the Austrian Bishops’ Conference from March 5th to 8th, will hold their regular spring session in Sarajevo. According to the plan of ABC, the BKBiH will hold a joint meeting on Monday, March 5th, at the Priest’s home of Vrhbosna Archdiocese in Sarajevo, after which the Austrian bishops will continue their regular spring session.
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Translated by: Ksenija Ninić
