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.
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