Belgrade archbishop, hopes for pope's visit to Serbia

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 01 APR - Relations between Serbia and the Vatican have never been so good since diplomatic relations were established, and a visit by Pope Francis to Belgrade would help further strengthen and intensify relations. This was stated by Monsignor Ladislav Nemet, Catholic Archbishop of Belgrade, who said that Serbia's failure to recognize Kosovo undoubtedly contributes to the situation. "In the relations between Serbia and the Holy See I see the dictatorship of common sense and reasonable behavior. I am sure that such relations can still improve," Nemet said in an interview with the Belgrade daily Politika.
    "I have been to the Vatican and invited the pope first verbally and then in writing to visit Serbia" on the occasion of the centenary of the establishment of the Archdiocese of Belgrade, the archbishop added, noting that he had spoken with Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Porfirije and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic about it. The pontiff, he noted, has been very willing and happy about his possible visit to Serbia. "Last year, on his return from Lisbon, the pope said he also wanted to visit Kosovo," Nemet said. These days, however, he has been told by the Vatican that due to Pope Francis' health condition no visit can be promised. The archbishop said he is planning a visit to Rome in the coming days, and that he intends to talk about all this at the Vatican."If the state of Pope Francis' health does not allow it, we will certainly have a visit from a senior Vatican official," said the Belgrade archbishop, according to whom the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin may visit Serbia next September, representing the pope, for the centenary celebrations of the Belgrade archdiocese.
    (ANSA).