Pope receives Željko Komšić of Bosnia and Herzegovina

By Vatican News

Pope Francis on Saturday morning received in audience Željko Komšić, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A Holy See Press Office statement said discussions between the two leaders took place in a cordial atmosphere, and specified that “the parties focused on the good bilateral relations and the domestic situation of the country, with particular attention to the Catholic community. Likewise, the need to guarantee full respect for the rights of all citizens and the effective equality of the three constituent peoples”.

Finally, mention was made of some topics “of mutual interest regarding the international and regional context, such as peace and security, the need to foster paths of dialogue to face the various themes in the Western Balkans and the prospects for the enlargement of the European Union in the region.”

The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the body which collectively serves as head of state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It comprises three members: one Bosniak, one Serb, and one Croat.

The three members elected at any one election serve a collective four-year term. Although the body is the collective head of state, one member is designated as Chairperson whose position rotates twice around the three members every eight months.

After meeting with the Pope, Željko Komšić subsequently held talks with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and with the Under-Secretary for Relations with States, Msgr. Mirosław Wachowski.