Announcement from the 91st Regular Session of the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Hercegovina

Members of the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Hercegovina, held on November 4^th and 5^th 2024, in the premises of the Archbishops’ Residence in Sarajevo, underwent their 91^st regular session under the chairmanship of the Archbishop Metropolitan of Vrhbosna and the Apostolic Administrator of the Military Ordinariate in BiH, Mons. Tomo Vukšić, President of BK BiH. The bishops from Banja Luka, Mostar and Sarajevo were joined by: delegates of the Croatian and Austrian Bishops’ Conferences, Mons. Roko Glasnović (Bishop of Dubrovnik), Mons. Klaus Küng (Bishop Emeritus of Sankt Pölten), delegate of the International Bishops’ Conference of St. Cyril and Methodius, Mons. Rrok Gjonlleshaj, Archbishop of Bar and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Kotor. The bishops-delegates conveyed the expressions of fraternal communion of the members of their episcopal conferences and informed the participants of the sessions about the most important events in the area of the conferences from which they come from.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Bosnia and Hercegovina, Archbishop Francis of Assisi Chullikatt, joined the bishops during the first part of the session. Some parts of the session were attended by the Apostolic Visitor for the parish of Međugorje, Mons. Aldo Cavalli and Cardinal Vinko Puljić, retired Archbishop of Vrhbosna.

In the second part of the session, the bishops referred to the implementation of the conclusions adopted at the 90^th plenary session held in Banja Luka on July 16^th and 17^th of this year.

The bishops listened to the reports of their delegate, Mons. Petar Palić from the XVI General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops held in Rome from October 2^nd to 27^th 2024, which dealt with the theme: “For the Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission”. The aforementioned session ended a three-year process that began in 2021. In his report, Bishop Palić presented in detail all the phases of the session, explaining both the methodology of work and the conclusions that were published in the final document. Speaking about personal impressions, Bishop Palić emphasized that the entire Synod can only be experienced from the inside in the right way and that what is read in various media reports sometimes do not correspond to reality. The Synod is a true expression of the beauty of the universality of the Catholic Church, emphasized Mons. Palić. He concluded his report by saying: “The Synod is over, but, in fact, it is only now that everything begins”.

The bishops referred to the unfortunate event of the natural disaster that hit northern Hercegovina and central Bosnia, and reiterated their condolences and closeness to all those who lost their family members and all those who suffered material damage. In this regard, the bishops discussed the help sent by the Catholic Church to the affected areas through its charitable organizations, noting that this closeness and support will remain in the future.

Furthermore, the bishops discussed the celebration of the Jubilee 2025 years since the birth of Jesus Christ, which is celebrated at the level of the Universal Church. Also, the bishops agreed on the celebration of a great anniversary in the areas of the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Hercegovina and the Croatian Bishops’ Conference, which is 1100 years since the Split church councils erected at the time of Croatian King Tomislav.

One of the topics of this session was the issue of some customs related to funerals. The bishops emphasized that priests and the faithful should adhere exclusively to church norms and be guided by the valid decisions of the Bishops’ Conference and diocesan bishops.

As for the appearance of clerics and other church officials in the media, the bishops considered certain church regulations that regulate the mentioned issue and initiated the process of drafting such a document for the area of the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Hercegovina.

The following dates of the sessions of the Bishops’ Conference of BiH during 2025 have been agreed:

• March 2021: In Mostar, starting with an evening Mass on the Feast of St. Joseph, March 19^th at the Cathedral of Mary, Mother of the Church
• July 1617: In Banja Luka, starting with an Eucharistic celebration on July 15^th at the Cathedral of St. Bonaventure
• November 34: In Sarajevo, starting with a joint Eucharist on November 2^nd at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Central Eucharistic celebration for the Solidarity Week 2025 will be on March 23^rd at St. Anthony of Padua parish church in Žepče. The meeting of the members of the Bishops’ Conference of BiH with the members of the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious Orders in Bosnia and Hercegovina will take place on March 26^th. The same day, the bishops of BiH will meet with the Franciscan provincials. The 12^th Interdiocesan meeting in Bosnia and Hercegovina will be held on March 27^th 2025, at the Archbishop’s Seminary “Petar Barbarić” in Travnik.

On June 4^th 2025, a meeting for all priests working in Bosnia and Hercegovina will take place in Tomislavgrad, and all other priests originally from BiH are invited. The celebration of the 1100^th Anniversary of the Split Church Councils during the reign of King Tomislav will be held on July 5^th 2025, with an Eucharistic celebration in Tomislavgrad.

The 8^th Family Day in Bosnia and Hercegovina will be celebrated on July 27^th in Kupres, beginning with an evening Mass on July 26^th. Media day will be marked on September 28^th 2025.

On Sunday, November 3^rd, 2024, the bishops celebrated Holy Mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, presided by Archbishop Vuksic, with a sermon by Bishop Majic of Banja Luka. On Monday, November 4^th, the bishops celebrated the Eucharist at the chapel of the Vrhbosna Theological Seminary and met wit hthe theological community. Archbishop Vukšić presided, and Bishop Roko Glasnović of Dubrovnik delivered the sermon.

Sarajevo, November 5^th, 2025

Secretariate of the Bishops’ Conference of BiH

(kta/eng. g.b)