Can this be a beggining of new era between Serbia and Vatican?
They must make sure that the Pope gets a tour of the hundreds of destroyed Christian Churches, monasteries, and cemeteries in Kosovo. I have little doubt that his condemnation of these repeated desecrations would be eloquent.
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I think that this would be a great opportunity for the Pope to meet with Serbian leaders.
The visit is not even mentioned in the (Croatian script) Serbian language version of the same Agency. Neither is the visit mentioned by the Vechernye novosti (Evening News) agency, or the daily Politika.
Most surprizingly, neither does the official site of the Serbian Orthodox Church make any mention of this visit (although the issue is dated August 10th, so it may be behind the news curve).
"The Holy Father always has an open mind, open arms, and an open heart towards our country, and is ready to visit Serbia," said Sbarbaro in his interview in today's issue of the "Citizens' Paper."
This is a radically different story than the one reported earlier from a generally untrustworthy B92 agency that has a reputation for bombastic and provocative news stories that turn out to be misleading.
My suggestion: do not use B92 as a source of news, period. If you have to use it, include a disqualifier.
Speaking at the Independent journalists’ association of Vojvodina forum “Promoting differences”, Djordjevic said both the state and the Serbian Orthodox Church share the stand that the Pope’s visit should not take place. “There is great resistance to the idea in Serbia. The majority SPC’s Holy Synod is in favor of the Pope’s visit, but the minority that is opposed to it is far more aggressive and extreme”, Djordjevic said.
Djordjevic said that the Pope himself said in one of his addresses that he does not wish to visit a country where the church is in opposition to the idea, since he sees his mission is to bring people together, rather than create divisions.
For those not familiar with B92 (a Soros-backed institution for dissemination of lies), the use of such terms as "extreme" and "aggressive" is a way to paint the other side as evil without having to justify such claims. They will never, for example, interview one of these "extreme" and "aggressive" elements to find out why they might be opposed to such a visit.
The sole individual quoted here is a religion sociologist Mirko Djordjevich attending a "rainbow" (all inclusive, liberal) meeting of "independent jurnalists" (what an oxymoron!)
Of course, they also show now reliable numbers or names of those who are on record in favor or opposed to Papal visits in the Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), but rather rely on a statement by an "independent" journalist as fact. Thus, most wanton allegations of friendly sources are presented as hard facts.
B92 makes even British tabloids appear as respectable newspapers.
Of course, this story is only few days behind and in complete disagreement with an earlier B92 story, also originated in Serbia's northern liberal province of Voyvodina, based on a fabricated quote attributed to +Benedict XVI, that he wants to come to Serbia to "unite the churches" (no such recorded statement exists from the Pope).