Concelebrating with Archbishop Tomo, on the feast of the Holy Family, were the Apostolic Nuncio in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Msgr. Francis Assisi Chullikatt, the Secretary of the Nunciature, Msgr. Javier Camañes-Forés, and ten priests from the Sarajevo Deanery, led by the Archdeacon of the Fojnica Archdeaconry, Rev. Marko Zubak, and the Dean, Rev. Miroslav Ćavar. The faithful filled the Sarajevo Cathedral to full capacity, and nuns working in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina also participated, including the provincial superiors, sister Augustina Matijević (Sisters of Mercy) and sister Ana Marija Kesten (Servants of the Little Jesus). The seminarians of the Vrhbosna Theological Seminary, led by the rector Rev. Ivan Rako, assisted.

Introducing the Holy Mass, Msgr. Vukšić emphasized the reason for the gathering of believers, which is the solemn conclusion of the Jubilee of 2025, marked by the concept and content of Christian hope.

He continued this thought in the homily (you can download the full text HERE), first recalling the events that marked the life of the Church throughout the past year, both on a general and local level.

Peacemakers in a World of Troubles

He emphasized that the central message and guiding principle of the Jubilee Year was the call for Jesus' faithful to be pilgrims of hope in the world. "But before they witness hope to others, and before they could do so at all, Christians were called to do everything so that this jubilee in their lives would be primarily a time of a living and personal encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Gospel of John calls the door of salvation (cf. Jn 10:7.9). And only strengthened by this encounter with Christ, taught by his teaching and guided by his example, Christians and the entire Church must always, everywhere and to everyone proclaim Christ who is our hope (cf. 1 Tim 1:1)... Themselves taught by the teaching of Jesus, they must teach others in Him. Themselves evangelized, they must evangelize others. And themselves on the path of conversion and sanctification, they must be an example to others", said Archbishop Tomo, underlining how Christians are called to be "light bearers of love" and "peacemakers in a wounded world torn by wars." In order to achieve this, they need to be “in the service of hope”, “reject hatred and violence, strengthen reconciliation, build peace, have the courage to forgive, build a just world and seek solutions to open issues through dialogue”. “These are messages that are also very important as signs of hope for Bosnia and Herzegovina”, emphasized Msgr. Vukšić and cited data that by the end of September 2025, 89 wars had been recorded in 31 countries, in which 92 countries participated.

"Armed conflicts, however, are not the only wars that are waged in this world, because there are other forms of violence against human life and dignity, whose victims are also numerous and who urgently need to be protected, to be given hope, at least by raising their voices and praying to the Lord of life. There are many other goods of this world to which Christmas calls all people, and primarily Christian believers, to be signs of hope in this. There are many more values that it asks to be protected", said the Archbishop of Vrhbosna, emphasizing the call to respect human life from the moment of conception to natural death and to protect women, migrants, the poor and children.

Christian love is prophetic

He also recalled the preparation for the extraordinary jubilee in 2033, when 2 000 years will have passed since the death and resurrection of Jesus.

“The true light, Christ the Lord, who became man, founded the Church and entrusted it to the guidance of his Holy Spirit to shine in the world. This Spirit, by his constant presence, spreads the light of hope in the Church as a traveller and in every faithful pilgrim. He maintains this light of hope like a burning torch, which never goes out, in order to give support and strength to our lives and hope to other people”, said Msgr. Vukšić, emphasizing: “Love and the deepest convictions in Christianity are mutually dependent and must nourish each other. Therefore, as the current Pope says, remaining in the world of ideas and discussions, without personal, frequent and sincere deeds, would mean the ruin of our most precious dreams. Therefore, it is always better to do something than nothing. Although, admittedly, this will not solve the problems in the world, we must exercise ourselves in good deeds in order to touch people who suffer and be a sign of hope.”

In conclusion, he quoted Pope Leo that Christian love is prophetic by nature. "'Love is above all a way of understanding life, a way of living. A Church that sets no limits to love, that knows no enemies to fight against, but only men and women to love, is the Church that the world needs today' (Dilexi te, 120). Such a Church is a pilgrim of hope", said the Archbishop of Vrhbosna.

At the end of the Holy Mass, during which the liturgical singing was led by the Cathedral Mixed Choir Josip Stadler, conducted by Rev. Marko Stanušić, the Te Deum was sung and Msgr. Vukšić prayed the prayer that concluded the Jubilee of 2025 at the level of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese. The Holy Mass celebration was broadcast live by Radio-Television BiH.

Let us remind that Pope Leo XIV will close the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on the feast of the Epiphany on January 6^th 2026, to conclude the Jubilee of Hope at the level of the universal Church.