Pope encourages reconciliation in Bosnia

Pope Francis has arrived in Sarajevo on a one-day visit to encourage Bosnia’s dwindling number of Catholics to stay and help forge a peaceful future with Muslims and Orthodox Christians following the devastating three-way war of the 1990s.

Francis emerged from his Alitalia jet at Sarajevo’s main airport, where he was greeted by the Croat member of Bosnia’s three-way presidency, Dragan Covic, as well as Bosnian Cardinal Vinko Puljic and children dressed in traditional folk outfits representing the country’s three main religions.

The 78-year-old Pope has a packed schedule ahead, including meetings with government officials, a Mass, an encounter with priests and nuns from the region, an inter-faith gathering and finally a rally with young people.