In the friary church of St. Anthony of Padua in Bistrik, Sarajevo, on Saturday the 26th October 2024, an important prayer meeting entitled "The Spirit of Assisi" was held: inspired by the initiative of St. John Paul II, who in 1986 gathered representatives of the world's religions in Assisi to pray together for peace, this meeting also welcomed representatives of different religious communities, demonstrating that Sarajevo, a city with a long history of multiculturalism, is truly a city of peace, dialogue and interreligious understanding.
The Franciscans, led by Br. Zdravko Dadić, Minister of the Province of the Holy Cross of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the friars of the convent of St. Anthony in Bistrik and Br. Ivan Tučić, provincial head of the Council for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue, opened the doors of their church for this prayer meeting.
Amongst the illustrious guests present were the Archbishop and Metropolitan of Vrhbosna, Msgr. Tomo Vukšić, the apostolic nuncio to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Msgr. Francis Assisi Chullikatt, the Minister General of the OFM, Br. Massimo Fusarelli, and the representatives of different religious communities: the Jewish Community (Mr. Igor Kožemjakin, hazan of the Jewish Community of Sarajevo), the Islamic Community (Nedžad ef. Grabus, mufti of Sarajevo), the Protestant Evangelical Alliance (Pastor Tomislav Dobutović), the Bahá'í Association (Mr. Laurent Mesbah), the Sathya Sai Organization (Ms. Dunja Mašić) and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Mr. Darko Ostojić).
Br.. Šimo Ivelj
Text of the prayer recited by Mons. Tomo Vukšić:
O Lord, You are the source of peace and the foundation of brother and sisterhood amongst people.
May Your Holy Spirit enlighten and guide us
so that love instead of hatred, understanding
instead of distrust,
and sensitivity to the needs of others instead of selfishness, reign everywhere.
Grant that every day we may become ever better builders of peace.
Remind us that the true source of a just and lasting peace amongst people is peace with You,
peace in a pure heart and conscience.
Amen!
