The Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PABiH), Marinko Cavara, met with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, yesterday in the Vatican, after the general audience.
Cavara thanked the Holy Father for his support to BiH through the recognition of BiH as a key country in building peace in Southeast Europe and important for mutual understanding of different cultures, religions, and the three constituent peoples of BiH.
Namely, Cavara pointed out the importance of the connection between Catholics in BiH and the Holy See, evaluating such a connection as crucial for the preservation of religious identity, but also for the improvement of dialogue between different religious communities.
He pointed out that BiH strongly directed its activities towards European integration, and thanked the Holy Father for the support provided to BiH on the path to the European Union(EU), assessing that it represents support that goes beyond political frameworks.
With special honor, Cavara congratulated Pope Francis on eleven years of pontificate, wishing him good health, strength and wisdom in promoting the value of human brotherhood and establishing dialogue between people and all religions.
The Holy Father Pope Francis said that he is praying for peace in the whole world and in BiH. Sending the papal blessing to our country, Pope Francis wished BiH full progress in every aspect.
Expressing his deep respect, Cavara presented Pope Francis with a gift – a coin of the Bosnian King Stjepan Tomas Kotromanicand his wife Queen Katarina Kosaca-Kotromanic, as a symbol of the connection between the past and the present on the 600th anniversary of the birth of Queen Katarina Kosaca-Kotromanic, who was buried in Rome.
Cavara said that this symbolic gift is an expression of connection and commitment to peace, as well as unity in spiritual values that are rooted in our common history, PABiH announced.
