First, in Sarajevo's cathedral of Heart of Jesus, Cardinal Puljić, with the concelebration of four priests, presided over a mass celebration, before which the possibility of a holy confession was given, which was used by a few Catholic politicians.

The top of Croatian politics in BiH

The archbishop's invitation was accepted by about a hundred politicians and people working in politics, chaired by the BiH Presidency Chairman Dragan Čović and the President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Marinko Čavara. Present, among others were: the Chairwoman of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, Borjana Krišto, Vice-President of RS Josip Jerković, Minister of Defense of BiH Marina Pendeš, Chairwoman of the House of Peoples of the Federation of BiH Parliament Lidija Bradara, FBiH Finance Minister Jelka Milićević, Minister of Physical Planning FBiH Josip Martić, Minister for Refugees and Displaced Persons RS Davor Čordaš, President of HDZ 1990. Ilija Cvitanović and many other officials at various levels of government in BiH.

Responsibility at the current moment

Archbishop Vinko concepted his commemorative homily in three parts. He first talked about St. Lucy, for on this day is her names day. Then about the Mass readings, in a special way from the Book of Isaiah, which indicates that God's mourning gives strength. "The higher the position a man holds, the greater responsibility. It also demands greater obligation to ask and pray from God the strength to bear with everyday challenges", the cardinal said.

As a third point of reflection, he emphasized that the trust in God is to be restored with people. "May the Word of God enlighten us so that our people will not lose their orientation", emphasized Archbishop Vinko and spoke about the problem of youth immigration, saying that there are four fundamental reasons for this: political insecurity; the fact that parents and the whole society did not teach children to love their homeland; that young people are raised only for enjoyment and not for life; and ultimately lack of employment. "Nobody in life succeeded if they did not suffer",  said cardinal Puljić thanking the people who participate in the socio-political life of Bosnia, who responded to his invitation for this spiritual renewal. "We must not disperse and embitter between ourselves, but it is necessary to establish rows in true communion around the common good and survival in this region", he said.

Lecture about the Christian in Politics

After the Holy Mass, a lecture was held in the hall of the Priest’s House, held by prof. Dr. Stjepan Baloban, head of the Department of Social Sciences of the Church at the Catholic Faculty of Theology in Zagreb.

Thinking of the topic of Christians in politics: between the gospel ideal and reality, prof. Baloban pointed out four features: Christian engagement in politics; Political and ethical competence of Christian politicians; Ethics in Politics and Upbringing for Politics.
Among other things, he emphasized that “in political action, apart from the morality of an individual, the matter that should increasingly be taken in consideration, is the ‘structures’ that man has created and which are often more powerful than him." The true quality of parliamentary democracy is not in the programs but in those who carry these programs", explained prof. Baloban and also added that "religious values ​​can inspire politicians in seeking truth, justice, and especially interceding for the general good." He mentioned the omnipresent misguided assumption that someone who is a good believer, is a bad politician. From this he concluded that in the time of cultural and moral relativism "political competence assumes ethical principles as a basis and framework".
He concluded by pointing out the need for upbringing for politics, emphasizing how it is defined in broader terms as a political culture, and in more narrow term as a political practice. Therefore, he said, the Church must deal with politics (as a culture) and must not deal with politics (as a profession). The lecture, prof. Baloban, ended by quoting the inscription from the Dubrovnik Republic: "Obliti privatorum publica curate – By forgetting private interests, worry about the public ones".
"To be in politics for a Christian means more calling and mission than occupation and profession," concluded prof. Baloban whose lecture induced thinking and discussion. Among other things, one could hear that politicians at the time when the Church in the Vrhbosna Archdiocese opened the Jubilee Year of Josip Stadler could be inspired with the political ideas of the first Vrhbosna Archbishop who "did not wander" and that the Church attempts to establish the structure of "the Chaplaincy of politicians" and in this way help out carrying out this responsible task for the general good of all people.
The whole event was completed “over a cup of talk”  in the hall of the Priest’s House.

KT