Dacic. Pope’s visit would be useful for Serbia (Tanjug, B92)
"Former President Nikolic canceled pope's visit to Serbia" (B92, Tanjug)
Pope Francis' visit would be of state and national interest to Serbia, which is why it is important to achieve consensus in our country, says Ivica Dacic.
The foreign minister and first deputy PM also said that the role of the Vatican is invaluable as Serbia fights for Kosovo and Metohija. Dacic added that he understands the opposiiton of the Serbian Orthodox Church to the visit, but that the pope is not only a religious leader, but also a statesman.
Pope Francis should come to Serbia, Belgrade FM says (Politika, N1)
Only a day after the Serb Orthodox Church (SPC) Patriarch said it was still not time for the head of the Roman Catholic Church to visit Serbia, the country Foreign Minister said Pope Francis should come.
Ivica Dacic told the Belgrade daily Politika on Wednesday that there would be no better Pope for Serbia and that he believed that the current head of the Roman Catholic Church should visit the country.
Pope Francis hosted a private audience with President Thaci (Koha)
Pope Francis, hosted today at the Holy See in Vatican, a private audience with the President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci.
“Thaci stressed that Kosovo has continued to preserve patience, faith and values that we have as society – love and solidarity in family and society, respect for everyone’s dignity, tolerance and cooperation,” informs a press release issued by the Office of the President of Kosovo.
"Unlikely that Pope Francis will go to Pristina" (B92)
Serbian Ambassador to UNESCO and the country's former ambassador to the Vatican Darko Tanaskovic say he does not believe Pope Francis will visit Kosovo.
Tanaskovic also noted that even if that were to happen, "it would not have to mean that the Vatican had recognized, or was going to recognize, Kosovo."
Pope Francis "to visit Belgrade and Pristina" – report (B92)
Pope Francis "should visit Belgrade and Pristina within the next year," the Belgrade-based Danas daily reported on Wednesday.
The paper was quoting "unofficial Western diplomatic sources" when reporting this, Tanjug said.
According to the report, the sources said Pope Francis had been invited by Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic to pay a first official visit to Belgrade and was willing to do so, and the Serbian Orthodox Church is not against the invitation either.
Thaçi meets the Pope, says the Holly Father plans to visit Kosovo (Indeksonline)
The President of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi, met on Sunday during the ceremony of Mother Teresa’s being declared a saint, Pope Francis.