Pope urges Bosnia to put ‘barbarity of war’ behind it

The Pope has urged Bosnia’s Muslims, Orthodox Christians and Catholics to put the “barbarity” of war behind them and work together for a peaceful future as he made a one-day visit to Sarajevo.

As he began his visit, aimed at encouraging reconciliation following the devastating three-way war of the 1990s, Francis received a joyous welcome from thousands of cheering Bosnians who lined his motorcade route through the mostly Muslim city of 300,000.

Another 65,000 people, most of them Catholics, packed the same Sarajevo stadium where John Paul II presided over an emotional post-war Mass of reconciliation in 1997.