The Holy See’s Secretary of State for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, is paying a three-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday.

“The arrival of Msgr. Paul Richard Gallagher in Bosnia and Herzegovina continues the efforts of all popes, and the Holy See as such, for peace and justice in this part of the world. In this endeavour for dialogue, harmony and understanding among people, we remember St. John Paul II with great gratitude, who, more than anyone else, raised his voice against the evil of the war in BiH, killing of people and destruction of fruits of human labour,” said Msgr. Tomo Vuksic, the Archbishop of the Metropolitan of Vrhbosna and Apostolic Manager of the Military Ordinariate in BiH.

In addition to meetings with church and government officials in BiH and other meetings, Archbishop Gallagher will visit all three diocesan seats in Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Mostar and celebrate Holy Mass with local bishops and priests, the Bishops’ Conference of BiH said in a statement.