Delegation of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ministry of Defense, led by the Defense Minister of BiH Marina Pendes, and the Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Common Security Headquarters of BiH, General Ivica Jerikic, attended the inauguration of the 61st International Military Order Pilgrimage in Lourdes with the Ministers of Croatia, Italy and Hungary on May 17th, 2019 .
The ceremony was held in Basilica of St. Pius X in Lourdes, and around forty countries from Europe and the world participated, including twenty-day pilgrims and members of the Armed Forces of BiH and employees of the BiH Ministry of Defense, led by the bishop of Bishop Mons. Tom Vuksic.
Minister Pendes and General Major Jerkic participated in official pilgrimage on May 18, 2019 in honor of all soldiers in all wars – at Peyramale Square in Lourdes.
This year’s 61st International Military Pilgrimage takes place under the motto “Search for Peace and go for it”.
The International Military Pilgrimage was established in 1946 to promote reconciliation and peace after World War II. Every year since, for one weekend in May, Lourdes has become a place of prayer and healing for active-duty members and veterans representing more than 40 nations.
Lourdes is one of the most popular Catholic pilgrimage destinations in the world. It was the location of a series of 19th-century apparitions, during which the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous. During the past 100 years, millions of pilgrims have flocked to the site, with the hope of receiving a special healing and a deepening of faith.
