‘Living together is the future’. On the eve of the opening of the International Meeting in Sarajevo promoted by the Community of Sant'Egidio, with the four bosnian communities (muslims, serbian orthodoxes, christians, jews) together in a common event for the first time after the end of the 1992-1995 war, an important prologue takes place between catholics and serbian orthodoxes. At the Liturgy celebrated in the Catholic Cathedral by Card. Vinko Puljic, participated the Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch, Irinej. A surprising sign that speaks about profound reconciliation.

Patriarch Irinej speaks at the end of the Liturgy: “I greet Sarajevo where, apart from us orthodoxes, live also catholics, muslims, jews, as a people that brings the face of God inside. - the Patriarch said - Our duty is to kiss every person the face of God is reflected in. We must love also our enemies. This is possible to those who carry Christ inside themselves”. “Many time has passed after the Christians divisions, but the divided house – said Irinej – is destined to distruction. This calls us to be closer”.

He then gave his appeal: “To those who hace the freedom to continue God's doing and to the representatives of different churches and religions I make a plea: may Sarajevo not remain without Christians. This way we can save what we have inherited and pass it to the next generations”. These days “human values are becoming marginal and other things has taken the faith's place”, but Christianity “demands to love those who are near and those who are far, and even those who are not Christian. This is the characteristic of the Christian, this is the essence. We feel that we have the duty to live this way”.

From Sunday, 11 september the Community of Sant’Egidio promotes together with the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna-Sarajevo and the Jewish Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina the International Meeting for Peace “Living Together is the Future. Religions and Cultures in Dialogue”