Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country once torn apart by war and ethnic divisions, is now a model of unity and peace following the establishment of fraternal dialogue, Pope Francis said during his visit to the Balkan country last weekend.
The pontiff made the statement as he met with heads of Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Judaism, and Islam in Sarajevo, the Catholic News Agency said.
"In a world unfortunately rent by conflicts, this land can become a message: attesting that it is possible to live together side by side, in diversity but rooted in a common humanity, building together a future of peace and brotherhood," the Pope said.
Fragmented into three major ethnic groups, Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of Muslim Bosniaks — the majority — as well as a large number of Orthodox Serbs and Croats, most of whom are Catholics. There is also a small Jewish community, which has a long history in Sarajevo.
Ethnic partitions were the cause of the country's 1992-1995 war, when the Serbs started a policy of ethnic cleansing of Bosniaks and Croats. The conflict ended in with the inking of the Dayton Peace Accords.
The pope said Sarajevo, whose recent past "sadly became a symbol of war and destruction," can be "a sign of unity, a place in which diversity does not represent a threat but rather a resource, an opportunity to grow together."
The head of the Roman Catholic Church told religious leaders that their work in the region is crucial because Sarajevo "stands as the crossroads of peoples and cultures."
Pope Francis emphasized the significance of inter-religious dialogue as "an indispensable condition for peace, and for this reason is a duty for all believers," adding it fosters a spirit of fraternity.
"Inter-religious dialogue, before being a discussion of the main themes of faith, is a conversation about human existence," he said.
"Dialogue is a school of humanity and a builder of unity, which helps to build a society founded on tolerance and mutual respect."
The Pope maintained that inter-religious dialogue should not be limited to just the leaders of religions, but must reach "as far as possible" to all believers and levels of civil society, Pope Francis said.
"For dialogue to be authentic and effective, it presupposes a solid identity: Without an established identity, dialogue is of no use or even harmful. I say this with the young in mind, but it applies to everyone."
Pope Francis later met with Bosnia's youth, telling them to be cautious against those who claim are speaking for peace.
"Everyone talks about peace, some powers speak saying beautiful things, but from underneath they sell weapons," he said.
He also taught young people about building bridges than walls, saying "a bridge always unites when it is used to go to each other, but when it's a forbidden bridge it becomes the ruin of a city and of an existence."
"You, the spring flowers after war, make peace, work for peace, all together, so that this will be a country of peace. This is the homework I leave with you: make peace all together."
