Dec 11, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Reconciliation and justice are still desperately needed in Bosnia-Herzegovina, 10 years after the end of the war, Bishop Ratko Peric of Mostar-Duvno told Aid to the Church in Need Dec. 7.
The prelate underlined, however, that true reconciliation requires the participation of all concerned parties.
“First of all the people must be ready to reconcile,” he said. “Bosnia-Herzegovina must become united—not only religious leaders, including Muslims, but one state with three different ethnic groups on an equal footing.”
He noted that Catholic and Orthodox bishops have met six times in the last seven years to work toward this end; they also issued a joint Christmas message last year.
The country is still in need material aid as it was severely damaged by the war, said the bishop. In his diocese alone, more than 60 church buildings were destroyed or heavily damaged; not all of the buildings have been repaired.