Christmas in the Balkans

SARAJEVO

Catholics and Christians in Balkan countries on Wednesday night attended Christmas masses at local churches and cathedrals.

At the Cathedral of Jesus' Heart in Sarajevo, Bosnian archbishop Cardinal Vinko Puljic gave a speech sending a universal message of peace to all the people in the world. "Let's find out the source of joy, and what makes man a peace builder," said Puljic.

Mass in Sarajevo was held in the presence not only of Bosnian Catholics, but also of those of different faiths who came to celebrate the holy night together with Catholic friends. 

Children of all faiths in Bosnia and Herzegovina are free from attending the classes during Christmas. 

Mass in Zagreb on Wednesday night was led by Archbishop Cardinal Josip Bozanic at the Croatian capital's main cathedral with a large number of the faithful.

Like most churches in Croatia, the Zagreb Cathedral was too small to accommodate all the faithful at midnight mass, so most of the people listened to the mass in front of the Cathedral.

"God is in us, is born when we overcome selfishness, when we open to the other in respect and dialogue, when in humility we forgive, when in love we serve," said Cardinal Bozanic. 

Masses were held in all churches in Kosovo, with the main one led by Kosovar Bishop Dode Gjergji at the Cathedral of Mother Teresa in Pristina. 

Addressing hundreds of believers, the bishop sent a message of peace, saying that there had been more love between people in the past than there is today.

Mass was attended by hundreds of the faithful, among whom there were also politicians and Kosovo Force soldiers.

"Everywhere we hear of family quarrels, social injustice, conflict, suicides, mass emigration of young people from the country and many other discouraging things," the bishop said.

The Kosovo bishop wished all citizens of Kosovo to have more love and justice to contribute to a better life in Kosovo.

Mass in Belgrade was led by Archbishop Stanislav Hocevar at the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Midnight Mass was held at the Church of St. Anthony in Zvezdara.

Besides a large number of Catholics, the Midnight Mass was also attended by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, the ambassadors of the United States, Palestine, Italy, Germany and other Western European countries, as well as by representatives of the Orthodox Church and of the Islamic Community.

Midnight Mass in the capital of Montenegro, led by Don Janez Mirtek, gathered a large number of the faithful in the Church of the Heart of Jesus in Podgorica. 

Christmas mass announces the arrival of Christmas, which is celebrated as the day Jesus Christ was born.

On Thursday, Pope Francis will address the world from Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome in celebration of the important Catholic holiday.

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