Web portal of Požega’s diocese reports that this meeting was held at the invitation of Bishop of Požega, Antun Škvorčević, President of the HBK’s Council for Ecumenism and Dialogue, in the Christmas spirit, before the beginning of the World Prayer octave for Christian unity.

From the Serbian Orthodox Church, bishop of Zagreb-Ljubljana Porfirije Perić; bishop of Gornje-Karlovac Gerasim Popović; Bishop of Slavonija Jovan Ćulibrk; the bishop of Dalmatia Nikodim Kosović and the Osijek-Polish and Baranjska bishop Heruvim Đermanović, participated in the meeting. With the host bishop Škvorčević from Požega, from the HBK also participated: the Archbishop of Zadar and President of the HBK Želimir Puljić; Archbishop of Split-Makarska and Metropolitan, President of the Bishop's Commission of the Croatian Bishop's Conference for the Dialogue with the Serbian Orthodox Church Marin Barišić; Archbishop of Đakovo-Osijek Đuro Hranić, and the Hvar Bishop and Secretary General of HBK Petar Palić.

At the beginning of the meeting, Bishop Antun expressed his welcome by emphasizing his belief that this gathering of episcopates and bishops is a meeting because of the realization of the mood that St. Paul recommended to the Colossians. The Apostle persuades them, that with those who believe in Christ “there is no more Greek - Jew, circumcision - uncircumcision, barbaric - slave, slave - free, but all and in all – Christ”. Then he goes on to say: “So be ye as the chosen ones of God, holy and beloved, in the merciful heart, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and sufficiency of one another if anyone has against whom any complaint! As the Lord forgave you, so do you! And beyond all - love! It is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ govern your hearts - the peace you are called to in one body! And be thankful! "(Col 3: 11-15).

Then, the Metropolitan Porfirije and archbishop Želimir addressed the present. The bishops in their conversations, explained the importance of their encounters in the service of promoting openness, trust, benevolence, understanding, and removal of prejudices. They pointed out that in Croatia, on the public scene, there is a large amount of negative attitudes, malicious approaches, dealing with negativity in others and passing over their own, which separates people, creates distrust and distance from one another.

As announced in the Požega Diocese, the bishops took up the evangelical starting point in interrelationships and actions for joint public appearances in order to encourage believers to promote fellowship beyond any national and political exclusivity. The conversation has touched many current issues of public life, especially with regard to discussions about the suffering of many people in the II. World War and immediately afterwards, and about the unhealed wounds from the war between 1991 and 1995, Croats and Serbs, especially those whose closest to them have been killed or missing. The bishops gave a special statement about this.

They emphasize in the Požega diocese that the meeting was held in the fraternal atmosphere, filled with charity and mutual trust.

Bishop's statement is transmitted in its entirety:

We, the Catholic bishops and bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Croatia, at the invitation of the Bishop of Požega, Antun Škvorčević, met in the Bishop's House in Požega on January 17th, 2019, in the Christmas spirit, before the beginning of the World Prayer octave for Christian Unity we testified to the common faith in the same Lord Jesus Christ who “gave himself for us” (Titus 2: 14), expressed respect to each other, shared the joy and hope, difficulties and problems of the communities we lead.

We expressed the conviction that no strategy directed against another man, people or the Church can be successful because it is inconsistent with God's plan of man and his victory over the evil and death, achieved through Jesus’ love on the cross. We have mentioned the serious suffering of the Serb and Croat people and other Croatian citizens during the recent past in war conflicts, persecutions and killings caused by hatred. We are aware that by mutual accusation, manipulation of historical truth, the interpretation of war events for daily political purposes, insults and humiliations due to belonging to a particular nation or religion, we remain prisoners of the past and the losers in the present. We are supposed to investigate scientifically and arguably find the truth about the sufferings during II. World War and during the war in Croatia from 1991 to 1995 in order to stop bidding with the number of victims and return their dignity as victims.

We deeply regret any innocent victim of any people, religion or political insight from our recent past, and we testify that all the evil and injustice that was brought upon them “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). The starting point of our pastoral work in the Croatian society is the firm conviction that God has “reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18). Therefore, we ask that the word of Jesus is achieved through us: “Be merciful as your Father is merciful” (Lk 6:36), that by our forgiveness we should be greater than the evil that has humiliated us, and without revenge thoughts and hate feelings in pure memory we commemorate our innocent victims, treating wounded souls, promoting trust and understanding among individuals and peoples, and thus establishing a solid foundation for a better and fairer future in our homeland for every human being.

May God bless our fraternal feelings, benevolent thoughts and sincere intentions.

Porfirije Perić, metropolitan of Zagreb-Ljubljana

Gerasim Popović, bishop of Gornje-Karlovac

Jovan Ćulibrk, bishop of Slavonija

Nikodim Kosović, bishop of Dalmatia

Heruvim Đermanović, bishop of Osijek-Polish and Baranjska

Msgr. Želimir Puljić, archbishop of Zadar, president of HBK

Mons. Marin Barišić, archbishop of Split-Makarska

Msgr. Đuro Hranić, archbishop of Đakovo-Osijek

Msgr. Antun Škvorčević, bishop of Požega, President of the HBK’s Council for Ecumenism and Dialogue

Mons. Petar Palić, bishop of Hvar and Secretary General of HBK