Msgr. Dr. Tomo Vuksic, Archbishop Metropolitan of Vrhbosna and Apostolic Administrator of the Military Ordinariate in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), said in an exclusive interview for agency Fena that according to priests, 353.872 Catholics lived in BiH at the end of 2019, which is compared to the same source from 2003 less by just over 100.000, warning that the emigration of people of all faiths from the country continues, in which, unfortunately, the state government, similarly to the surrounding countries, is hardly interested.
These processes of emigration and denatality, he said, are conditioned by many reasons, primarily absence of work, corruption, and real and legal uncertainty arising from the ‘unfinished state’.
”They affect the rest of the population of all faiths and continue, but, unfortunately, the state government, similarly to the surrounding countries, is hardly interested in that. A real shame,”said Vuksic.
He added that according to the data of priests who work in direct pastoral care, in 1996 there were 424.915 Catholics in BiH. That number then grew, so in 2003 there were 464.821 of them, and according to the same source, at the end of 2019, the number of Catholics was reduced to 353.872.
”Relying on the same sources, the last time I did these calculations was in 2019, and they were for the period from 1996. At that time, with new emigration and negative growth, the Banja Luka diocese was left without 45.71 percent of believers (-24.095) who were in the diocese after the last war, Sarajevo without 32.48 percent (-70.782) who were there after the war, Mostar without 11.75 percent (-22.845), and Trebinje without 13.04 percent (-2,773), ” said the archbishop, emphasizing that, with the desire to draw attention to the problem of reducing the number of Catholics and Croats in BiH, the team has been dealing with the issue since the end of the last war for almost 20 years.
According to him, this is the most important issue, in fact, the issue of all issues.
Referring in particular to Sarajevo, ie the emigration of Catholics and Croats from our capital, he pointed out that data on the number of Croats are also known for Sarajevo, where it began to decline before the last war.
”Namely, according to several censuses, Sarajevo, that is the area covered by that name at the time, had 41.354 Croats in 1971, and 34.873 in 1991. In contrast, according to the 2013 census, there are 17.520 Croats in Canton Sarajevo (CS) or 16.530 Catholics, and 350.594 Muslims, 13.543 Orthodox, 4.817 agnostics, 10.506 atheists, 9.910 undecided, and 6.812 members of other faiths,” the archbishop mentioned.
Asked what his cooperation will be like and whether he has already met with the leaders of other religious communities in BiH, he answered that he wants cooperation and dialogue with everyone and that he will always try to be open.
In addition, he believes, dialogue is the only morally acceptable way to resolve open issues, especially in complex societies, and in these situations, dialogue is an ethical and existential imperative.
”Ecumenism and dialogue, which is carried out through open and friendly encounters with the different and diverse, is an integral and indispensable part of the identity and mission of the Catholic Church. Even when others may not accept it. So, therefore, dialogue is the mission, method, and task of every Catholic bishop. I want such cooperation and dialogue with everyone and I will always try to be open,” the Archbishop added.
He added that he already knew the leaders of other religious communities personally and that he had met with them in the previous period, but that they had not seen each other since he took over his new ministry.
”However, I received their congratulations, for which I thank them. But, as soon as I complete all the formal and liturgical obligations of taking over, in the coming period I would be happy to visit and greet each of them at their headquarters,”Vuksic said.
Speaking about the plans for his new position and what he will focus on the most, he said that the plans of every Catholic bishop are equal to the program of the whole Church.
”It is above all the witness and proclamation of the Gospel in order to build love, development, harmony, and peace among people. This is the mission of the Church as such and, of course, the mission and task of every Catholic believer, including priests and bishops. With this in mind, I would be very glad if all of us, both priests and the faithful, could place even greater emphasis on the pastoral work of the entire archdiocesan community and the spiritual and moral development of individuals,” he added.
Of course, he added, ”I mean primarily Catholics, but we also want to contribute to the ethical principles of the life of the whole community. Because just as a large number of hardworking and moral people can make society become like that, so is with the Church. This spiritual renewal of every believer is a precondition for the renewal of the Church as a community, but also a starting point for the renewal of society. With God’s help and blessing, and with the help of co-workers and other good people, I would like to see quality progress in this area.”
”Christianity is by nature a religion of hope, and every Christian believer is called to be a witness to it. In addition, when all efforts to complete the implementing conclusions and proposals of our diocesan synod have been completed, the archdiocesan programs, plans, and preferences will be even more clearly defined. And I am convinced that they will be really pastoral,”concluded the Archbishop, Metropolitan of Vrhbosna, and Apostolic Manager of the Military Ordinariate in BiH.
E.Dz.
Source : BHRT
