http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2009&mm=11&dd=12&nav_id=62994
"Tadić should invite pope to Serbia" 12 November 2009 | 15:47 | Source: B92 BELGRADE -- A religion analyst says that when it comes to the Vatican, "the important issues for Serbia are European integrations". Živica Tucić spoke for B92 as President Boris Tadić is in Rome, where he will, among others, meet with the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI. Tucić listed that church's position toward Kosovo's status and a "sort of a benevolent stance" of Catholic countries toward Serbia as other important issues. “I think that Tadić should invite the pope to visit Serbia without setting a precise date,” he pointed out. The analyst stressed that there were about five percent of Catholics living in Serbia and that they had the right to receive a visit from their religious leader. The Vatican, as an important subject of international law, "has its expectations from Serbia", he continued. “The Roman Catholic Church is among the six traditional churches with privileges in Serbia, but there is a strong antagonism among citizens who are opposed to the pope’s visit,” Tucić believes. He also added the Holy See probably expected a "more positive attitude from Belgrade". Tucić continued to say that Vatican's refusal to recognize Kosovo "did not have much influence in the Catholic countries, because every each decided about its foreign policy". “The reasons why the Vatican did not recognize Kosovo have more to do with inter-church relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Christianity in general. In any case, it is a good thing and Serbia considers it a great gesture from Vatican, and should appreciate it” said he.
