In his inaugural sermon on St. Peter’s Square in Rome on October 22, 1978, the new Pope, 58-year-old Polish cardinal Karol Wojtyla, addressed to world with the following encouraging words: Don’t be afraid! Open, or better, spread the doors open to Christ. Christ knows what is in the man. It’s he only who knows it! Fifteen years later, having seen the tragedy of the besieged Sarajevo, the Pope sent a message of hope to the suffering people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, full of wartime scars, filed with distrust, indecision and restraint, he is coming to drive away suffering through the power of his moral authority and offer love and peace to each and every man. There is a heavy load on the god’s emissary. How is he to convey message about the necessity of reconciliation and the rebuilding of mutual confidence? The Pope believes that there are people of good will in Bosnia and Herzegovina who wish to get out of the abyss of evil. They have to be encouraged and motivated to overcome hatred and intolerance and consequently become the salt of this soil.
Pope John Paul II is a great humanist. Hi is deeply conscious of the tragedy, which Bosnia and Herzegovina had passed. He was aware of the blindness of international interests and the huge confrontations within Europe. With his declarations he kept appealing to the world powers to find peace and a just solution. He made a public announcement on the occasion of the Peace Day in 1993, saying that nothing can be solved by war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, because violence only destroys and leaves deep wounds that go on bleeding.
"Responsible politicians should not leave the peoples to their destiny and let them destroy themselves mutually" said the Pope on one occasion.
The Croatian Christian population in Bosnia and Herzegovina is welcoming the Pope at a difficult and uneasy time. Many homes have been destroyed, as well as churches and people’s hearts and souls. And yet they believe that the Pope is going to strengthen their faith and bring hope.
