The Pope’s visit is always on the table because the Catholic Church wants it to happen, but how feasible it is depends on all the citizens of Serbia, said Belgrade Archbishop Stanislav Hočevar, stating that Pope Francis’ visit to Serbia has been prolonged too much, but that now there are “real possibilities” for it to actually be organized.
Archbishop Hočevar believes that the Pope’s visit would enable a deeper dialogue and “greater, more integral memory of the past as well as a view into the future, so that the people can move forward”.
Hočevar pointed out that a new person is now on the throne of the Serbian Orthodox Church, who “should also acknowledge the whole situation, because there are possibilities and good will, but it also takes some time to prepare well”.
He stated that the Pope promotes peace, understanding, unity everywhere, and that he does not want to disturb the people with his arrival.
When it comes to the war in Ukraine, but also the conflicts around the world, Hočevar says that there are many misunderstandings and conflicts, and that there is also a division between rich and poor.
The Archbishop sees the upcoming Easter as an invitation to people to discover that, as he says, they are God-loved brothers.
“If we are brothers and sisters, we cannot go to war, but in conflict situations we can talk. Taking the lives of others makes it impossible for all of us to have a dialogue and be connected. That is why the Pope’s call to stop the wars for the Easter holidays and start a dialogue is so strong”, Hočevar said.
Also, as he said, he wonders why anthropologists, philosophers and theologians do not participate more in public life, and added that the world is now in a completely new situation due to globalization.
“Once upon a time, neighbours fought each other, and now the whole world is involved. And that is why today we are all much more strongly called to celebrate Easter, the holiday of hope, unity and future“, Hočevar emphasized.
Photo: Tanjug/Zoran Žestić