Cautious Recognition

With its recognition of Macedonia, the Vatican has, in a way, rounded off its policy concerning the newly-created states in the area covered by the former Yugoslavia. The setting up of full diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Skopje will follow very quickly. The Holy See did the same with Croatia and Slovenia four years ago and a little later with Bosnia-Herzegovina, while relations with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were not severed but inherited from the former Yugoslavia. This latter example is interesting in itself. The Papal Nuncio in Belgrade Monsignor Montalvo left only for a short vacation; he remained in his residence for the duration of the war even though the Vatican was at the receiving end of much criticism in the Serbian and Yugoslav capital, primarily because it had recognized Slovenia and Croatia before the European Union. Monsignor Montalvo bore all criticism in the press stoically and never replied to any of it - even when the Vatican was proclaimed the main guilty party for all that was happening in the territory of the former Yugoslavia. Instead of answering, top Vatican figures kept repeating that they, headed by Pope John Paul II had always urged the preservation of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for practical reasons to do with the organization of the Catholic Church.

After Yugoslavia's definite disintegration, the Vatican tried to find its way around in the most efficient manner. First of all it tried to retain its organizational plan in the changed circumstances. Special attention was paid to Bosnia-Herzegovina because of its factual territorial division. It is true that the bishoprics in Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka exist officially, but the war has cut down the number of Catholics in some of them to such an extent that it remains a moot question if they will continue to exist in some future territorial division. This is especially true of the Banja Luka bishopric.

The Vatican has sent an official request for the setting up of a Bishop's Conference in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but few believe that the Holy See will make any practical moves before the war ends and it finally becomes clear who will get what territory. There is still no answer to the request for the setting up of a Bishop's Conference for Serbia and Montenegro, even though the request was sent in September 1993.

Obviously, the Roman Catholic Church is waiting to see the outcome of the Yugoslav crisis before undertaking concrete steps in setting up a church hierarchy in these regions, depending on the states to be internationally recognized. The Vatican is putting off giving an answer to prelates from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia because it has not been internationally recognized. On the other hand, there were no problems in setting up the Bishop's Conference in Croatia.

The Papal Nuncio remained in Belgrade after the crisis and war broke out, even though Yugoslavia does not have an ambassador in the Vatican, which makes for a rather illogical situation. According to the latest stories making the rounds in Belgrade, the present Serbian Minister of Religion Dragan Dragojlovic could be appointed the new Yugoslav Ambassador to the Vatican. Earlier experience concerning proposals for Aleksandar Prlja (former Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs) for the post points to the fact that both sides are stepping warily and that it was perhaps better to put the whole issue on ice for the time being, rather than strain diplomatic relations.

Several top Catholic dignitaries have commented publicly on the fact that all the ambassadors appointed to the Holy See came from the northern republics, i.e. predominantly Catholic ones and that this was a big mistake, and wonder why diplomats from Serbia, Montenegro or B-H, even non-Catholics were never appointed. Belgrade Archbishop France Perko believes that had things been different, this could have had a positive effect on relations. But, it is too late for such things now.

Why did the Vatican wait so long with its recognition of Macedonia? The answer must be sought in the complexity of the Macedonian issue and that of the Balkans in general, and especially the Greek stand.

Certain analysts thought that the Vatican would immediately "take Macedonia's side" because of the good relations it enjoyed with the Macedonian Orthodox Church. Vatican diplomacy has managed to squeeze out of the "Balkan sandwich" skillfully and recognize Macedonia when solutions to problems between Skopje and Athens became discernible, even though there is little hope that all problems will be ironed out before the All Orthodox Synode convenes, especially the recognition of the Macedonian Orthodox Church by other Orthodox churches.