The Secretary of State for Relations with the State Secretariat of the Holy See, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, arrived in Sarajevo today and will stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina until March 20.
During the visit, he will meet with state and church representatives and heads of other Churches and religious communities and celebrate Holy Mass in the diocesan seats in Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Mostar. Accompanied by Msgr. Gallagher was arrived by Msgr. Janusz Stanisław Błachowiak of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See.
Archbishop Vuksic welcomed Msgr. Gallagher to Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Together they remembered the stay of Msgr. Gallagher in Sarajevo when, as a permanent observer of the Holy See at the Council of Europe, he participated in the plenary session of the President of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences held at the Vrhbosna Theological Seminary from 3 to 6 2002 in the BiH capital.
In the afternoon, Archbishop Gallagher will meet with BiH Foreign Minister Biser Turkovic and associates. After the meeting, the usual press conference will be held.
After a short meeting with the High Representative in BiH Christian Schmidt at the Apostolic Nunciature, Archbishop Gallagher will lead the Eucharistic celebration at 6 pm in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus together with Archbishop Vuksic.