Bishop Komarica: I hope the Holy Father and Dodik will also discuss where the Catholics have gone

BANJA LUKA, (Patria) - I am pleased that a meeting is taking place between the head of the Catholic Church and our politicians who bear responsibility for the present and future of our country and its inhabitants, said Banja Luka Bishop Franjo Komarica today at a press conference, responding to questions about the meeting of the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, with Pope Francis, scheduled for April 26.

But, Komarica said, I believe that if there is any discussion between the Holy Father and political representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina, it will be about the question of where the Catholics are and why they were not allowed to return to their pre-war homes.

"We know what the situation is with Catholics in this country, what happened to them during the war and after," Komarica said.

The Bishop of Banja Luka said that fewer than half of the Catholics who lived in Bosnia and Herzegovina before the war now live there, and that in the entity of Republika Srpska, almost 95 percent of Catholics are missing.

Komarica held a press conference on the occasion of the upcoming Easter, which Catholic believers celebrate on Sunday.