As part of his official visit to the Holy See, the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, received Denis Bećirović, a member of the BiH Presidency, in a private audience today.
Bećirović thanked Pope Francis at a private audience in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. During the cordial conversation, Bećirović and Pope Francis stated that bilateral relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Holy See are friendly, with a high level of understanding and respect.
The member of the BiH Presidency, Denis Bećirović, expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis and the Holy See for their principled support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On that occasion, he expressed the hope that the Holy See’s support to our country will continue, especially on the Euro-Atlantic route.
Bećirović said that Bosnia and Herzegovina extremely appreciates the engagement and visit of Pope Francis to our country, as well as the two visits of Ivan Paul II.
Pope Francis emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina has a special place in his heart, and that he fondly remembers his visit to our country and meetings with people in Sarajevo in 2015. During the conversation, Pope Francis said that he follows the events in Bosnia and Herzegovina and that he supports the strengthening of cultural and interreligious dialogue, common life in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its multi-ethnic character.
Member of the BiH Presidency, Denis Bećirović, invited Pope Francis to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina, and said that it would be an honor for all citizens and nations to once again offer hospitality to the head of the Catholic Church.
Bećirović congratulated Pope Francis on his pontificate, which in March of this year marked the tenth anniversary of his election as head of the Catholic Church. Bećirović emphasized that during his pontificate, Pope Francis, with his words, gestures and activities, strongly encouraged the consolidation of lasting peace, trust and tolerance, encouraging the spirit of community and brotherly love.
The member of the BiH Presidency also pointed to the importance of the Declaration on Human Brotherhood for World Peace and Coexistence, which was signed in 2019 by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmad Al-Tajeb. He especially pointed out that the signed Declaration represents a call for reconciliation and brotherhood among all people of good faith.
During his official visit to the Holy See, Denis Bećirović, a member of the BiH Presidency, presented Pope Francis with a copy of the book Codex diplomaticus Regni Bosnae: charters and letters of the old Bosnian state and the Solemn Charter of King Tvrtko I Kotromanić.
After the audience with Pope Francis, Bećirović will have a meeting with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, it was announced from the Cabinet of BiH Presidency member Denis Bećirović.
