N1 journalist Nikola Vucic launches biography of Bosnian Franciscan and peace activist Marko Orsolic

Published by Synopsis, the International Multireligious and Intercultural Centre (IMIC) Together, and the Franciscan Monastery in Tolisa, the book offers a comprehensive portrait of fra Marko Orsolic (born in Tolisa in 1943) – a Bosnian Franciscan friar, theologian, political scientist, historian and one of the region's most prominent advocates of peace, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation.

Structured through conversations and thematic chapters, the book traces Orsolic's life, intellectual development and decades-long public engagement in Bosnia and Herzegovina and across the Western Balkans. Its central motif is the bridge, a symbol of dialogue, encounter and the creation of common ground between people of different identities, beliefs and experiences, reflecting the core philosophy that has shaped Orsolic's work.

Speaking at the launch, Vucic said the book portrays a man who consistently rejected ethnic divisions and what he described as the "logic of the tribe."

"In Bosnia and Herzegovina there is still a prevailing belief that a person should belong to a single identity and define it in opposition to others. Marko Orsolic demonstrated that it is possible to remain deeply rooted in one's own tradition – as he was already in the Bosnian Franciscan Province, while at the same time remaining genuinely open to others," Vucic said.

According to the author, the publication is more than a biography, serving also as a record of a period in which dialogue and trust were built despite war, violence and deep social divisions.

The book's editor, theologian and writer Drago Bojic, described Orsolic as one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's leading public intellectuals and peace activists.

"Marko Orsolic is undoubtedly one of the most important intellectuals and activists of recent decades in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region, and certainly one of the most significant Bosnian Franciscans. His ideas and work are inseparably linked to Franciscan spirituality and to the centuries-old tradition of dialogue cultivated by the Bosnian Franciscans," Bojic wrote.

He added that the book demonstrates how it is possible to preserve humanity even under the most difficult social and political circumstances.

"Thanks to Nikola Vucic's dedication and Marko Orsolic's openness, this book sheds light on Orsolic's life and work while confirming that even in difficult times it is possible to preserve humanity and build friendship and fraternity among people," Bojic said.

Professor of philosophy Miso Kulic praised Vucic's approach, saying the author had gone beyond a conventional interview format by weaving together Orsolic's ideas, experiences and public engagement into a coherent intellectual biography.

"He created an original work that brings together both the theoretical and practical positions of Marko Orsolic. Rather than simply recording interviews, he presents the life of a man who spent decades striving for human freedom and working in the interests of ordinary people, the poor and the marginalized," Kulic said.

Peace activist Amra Pandzo described the publication as "a monument" to one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's most important advocates of peace.

"For me, this book is a monument to our Franciscan Marko Orsolic, to his anti-fascist struggle, his opposition to all forms of nationalism and his efforts to reconnect the torn social fabric of Bosnia and Herzegovina after the war. It preserves the memory of what good people did in difficult times," Pandzo said.

Vucic said the book is intended for readers seeking a deeper understanding of the challenges of building interreligious dialogue and peace activism in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"Marko Orsolic is an indispensable figure for anyone wishing to understand who the people were that built bridges after the systematic destruction and division of society," he said.

Bridges of Hope: Memories and Testimonies of Marko Oršolić highlights the enduring importance of dialogue, solidarity and reconciliation, arguing that bridges between people remain possible wherever there is courage, empathy and a willingness to embrace diversity.