Čović meets with Cardinal Čupić: Dialogue between peoples in BiH needed

Chairman of the Presidency of BiH Dragan Čović met in Chicago with the ninth Archbishop Dr. Blaž Josip Čupić. Cardinal Čupić informed Čović about the activities of the Catholic Church in the USA, especially his archdiocese, which is the third largest in terms of membership.

Čović informed Cardinal Čupić about the current political situation in BiH, and acquainted him with the existing Croatian issue. He emphasized that, guided by Christian values, Croats are striving to encourage dialogue in BiH with representatives of the other two peoples, which will result in the removal of all shortcomings that make BiH an unjust state. In this regard, it is necessary to amend the election law so that Croats are truly equal to the other two peoples. At the end of the meeting, Čović expressed gratitude to Cardinal Čupić for all the support provided.

He also visited the Croatian Franciscan Custody of the Holy Family, where he met with priests and sisters serving in the Custody. Fr. Jozo Grbeš, custos of the Croatian Franciscan Custody of the Holy Family, which administratively covers part of the USA and most of Canada, informed Čović about its activities. He pointed out that the Franciscans are currently active in several parishes in America and Canada. The brothers are also engaged in other forms of apostolate, with the most significant being the apostolate of writing and publishing books and magazines for those who speak Croatian on the American continent. Other apostolates include: chaplaincy service in hospitals, teaching, and missionary work. The Croatian Franciscan Custody of the Holy Family in Chicago is part of the Herzegovinian Franciscan Province.

The delegation led by Dragan Čović also visited the Croatian Ethnic Institute, which is a Croatian emigrant educational and scientific institution, and a data bank. It was founded by Croatian Franciscans in 1975. It was incorporated in 1977 as an educational and scientific institution for organizing a central collection or data bank on Croats and their descendants in the USA and Canada.

At the end of the visit, a reception was held at the Institute's premises with representatives of the Croatian community in Chicago.