Cardinal Puljic: The Pope told me that he desires to come to Bosnia and Herzegovina

date: 21.04.2005.

Cardinal Vinko Puljic, archbishop of Vrhbosna (Sarajevo) and President of the Bishops Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina, about the election of the new Pope: “The moment when Cardinal Ratzinger accepted the choice of the Cardinals and took the name of Benedict XVI was very moving. He choose this name for two reasons: because St. Benedict is the patron saint of Europe and because the Pope Benedict XV was a great peacemaker in difficult times. With this name, the new Pope indicates the direction that he is taking in the exercise of his charge.” Cardinal Puljic also said that the new Pope knows and follows the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “When I approached him to express my fidelity and obedience, he told me that he desires to come to our country.”