Hocevar: Vatican will not recognize Kosovo
Archbishop of Belgrade Stanislav Hocevar has said there is no indication the Holy See will change its position on the issue of Kosovo's independence.
(kosovocompromisestuff) Monday, April 01, 2013
In an interview published by the Belgrade daily Politika on Sunday, Hocevar says he does not know whether Kosovo's Prime Minister Hasim Tacic asked that Vatican recognize Kosovo at the inauguration of Pope Francis, but the Holy See is definitely not giving any signs that anything will change.
"This is something quite certain and very important for us, for the entire Catholic Church," he said.
When it comes to the relations between recognized churches and religious communities with the Serbian state, the archbishop of Belgrade says the church and the state need to have a continual dialogue on major spiritual, religious, cultural
and ethical issues.
Commenting on the relations between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, Hocevar says that after the breakup of Yugoslavia came "a time of reflection, a time for recapitulation of all history."
Noting that individuals unfortunately often pay attention to just one aspect, which is not crucial, he says he does not dramatize the difficulties. "It is better for conflicts to occur from time to time and that we all be prepared to work to resolve
them, than that we have peace for peace's sake," added Hocevar.
Asked what he thinks about the idea of the head of the Anglican Church, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, that his church should help their poor Orthodox brethren, Hocevar says the Catholic Church does help, but information about how much Caritas did for Serbia during its most difficult times and how much the Holy See is doing rarely gets out.
When it comes to restitution of church property, Hocevar expressed regret "the state has not exhibited more strength" and said the Archdiocese of Belgrade has had the least amount of property returned even though it is the poorest in terms of the size of its congregation.
"This is something quite certain and very important for us, for the entire Catholic Church," he said.
When it comes to the relations between recognized churches and religious communities with the Serbian state, the archbishop of Belgrade says the church and the state need to have a continual dialogue on major spiritual, religious, cultural
and ethical issues.
Commenting on the relations between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, Hocevar says that after the breakup of Yugoslavia came "a time of reflection, a time for recapitulation of all history."
Noting that individuals unfortunately often pay attention to just one aspect, which is not crucial, he says he does not dramatize the difficulties. "It is better for conflicts to occur from time to time and that we all be prepared to work to resolve
them, than that we have peace for peace's sake," added Hocevar.
Asked what he thinks about the idea of the head of the Anglican Church, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, that his church should help their poor Orthodox brethren, Hocevar says the Catholic Church does help, but information about how much Caritas did for Serbia during its most difficult times and how much the Holy See is doing rarely gets out.
When it comes to restitution of church property, Hocevar expressed regret "the state has not exhibited more strength" and said the Archdiocese of Belgrade has had the least amount of property returned even though it is the poorest in terms of the size of its congregation.
