Background: As part of the Education and Social Justice Project, in June 2024, undergraduate student Minahil Mahmud (SFS’26) interviewed Dr. Rev. Šimo Maršić, founder and director of the John Paul II Youth Pastoral Center in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this interview, Father Marsic discusses the origins of the center’s interreligious youth programming, the role of faith-based institutions in peacebuilding, and how the center seeks to be a sign of hope for post-war reconciliation in Bosnia.
Thank you again for sitting down with me. I was hoping if we could start off with you telling me about yourself and your background, and how you ended up here at the Center.
OK. I'm a Catholic priest who is leading this institution, and I was ordained as a priest in 1998. That's 26 years ago. And after my ordination, I was appointed in one parish in Sarajevo, and after one year, I was sent to postgraduate studies in Rome, where I finished youth work in the Catholic Church. And after finishing my Ph.D. in practical theology, I came back here, and I am teaching in our theological faculty of the University of Sarajevo—practical theology, Catholic practical theology. And at the same time, I started, that is now 20 years ago, the idea of the youth center at the Archdiocese of Sarajevo. So it took time to develop the idea, and only in 2011, we started building the Youth Center, this building. And in the meantime, we developed some projects, some ideas, and we started our interreligious activities immediately after taking over the youth office of our archdiocese. That is, in 2004, we started some activities, and then it developed, and in 2013, it became a really very big program of the Youth Center—an interreligious program where we are trying to create the spaces for the young people where they can meet on different levels, in different ways. We find these places.
Why—I believe that after the war, the whole country is divided in clear ethnic and religious territories, where the young people do not have the chance to meet the others with whom they are living in this country, and it is important that there are places where they can meet, where they can exchange, in order to overcome the prejudices that are sometimes growing. Sometimes, they are there after the war, and especially the young people—the new generation—is living in monoethnic or mono-religious territories, where they do not meet the others, don't interact with the others. Those prejudices tend to grow. And in this way, the Catholic Church is giving its contribution to this task that we have here as a society to overcome the prejudices and to respect each other, to accept each other, and to build a society where everyone can feel at home.
Thank you for that answer. That was a very clear overview of how the program started and why there was a need for it, which was something that I was very curious about. I'm wondering, what is the importance of the Catholic identity of this institution? I was speaking to a few people here who really emphasized that it's not an NGO, it's not a government institution, it's a Catholic institution. Why do you think that's important? Does that help you serve your purpose in some way?
It is bringing something, I think. This is a religious institution, it's a Catholic institution, and it is giving something to this need of overcoming the prejudices. So what we are doing is that we are starting from a religious point of view. So we are looking at our religions and trying to find there the reason that we respect each other, that we have to overcome the prejudices because in our religions, different religions, and we as a starting from this place as a Catholic place, but everyone is welcomed and we are trying to bring those who find in their religion, reason for tolerance, for living together, for respecting each other, and so on. So, that's… I think that we, as religious leaders and religious institutions, can give our contribution to the peace and reconciliation in this country. And that's what we are doing. So I know that there are other NGOs who are working on peace and reconciliation, but this is our contribution to it. So they are doing good things, excellent, good, but we—as a faith organization, as a Catholic institution—we want to give our contribution with this, what with these programs that we are doing here. And I think that's something that is unique, then. That's something that we are bringing to this peace and reconciliation need in our country after the war, and in this situation where we are living. So we want to, really out of our religion, our faith, to go and to give our contribution.
We know that we cannot change everything. We are not politicians, we are not; we don't have laws, and so on. But we can give what we can give, and we can contribute with creating the spaces, sport activities, music activities, camps, seminars, study visits, and so on. These are all the places where the young people can know each other and overcome the prejudices, and I hope, find the strength in their religion, also, to build a better society for everybody here.
Thank you for bringing up peace and reconciliation and the role of interfaith institutions, because that's something I wanted to ask you about. You've touched on this a little bit, but what do you think is the role of faith institutions in Bosnia specifically? And I'm also curious, what exactly do you mean by peace and reconciliation through religion?
That's what I said, already; that we can find in our religion the foundation for building peace and reconciliation, because in every religion and in our religion as a Christian, we believe that we can live with the others, respecting the others, the we can build together better future we can out of our faith we can go and reach to the others, no matter what religion they are. If they are in need, or if we can do something together. I think that's specific because we are trying, we are finding in our religion the base or the ground for peace and reconciliation. We cannot live in hatred. As a believer, as Christian, I do strongly believe that all the other young people who are coming here, whether they are Orthodox or also Christians or Muslims, they can do the same. And out of our belief in God, who is the creator of everything and everyone, we can really relate to each other and find there the reason that we live together in peace—and that we try to to go over all the these bad things that happened during the war here.
I know that it is very hard for the families and the people who lost their loved ones in the war to overcome everything that is happening emotionally, and to give a hand to the others, and to live together. It's hard. It's not an easy process, but it is a process, and it is the only way that we can continue to live here. Otherwise, the war is going to come again. We have to work on it and, really, to invest and create the spaces, especially for the young people, where they can see. That's what I do believe, that is my dream, that we can be [INAUDIBLE].
Thank you for sharing that. How would you describe the development of the Let's Step Forward Together program over time? So it started in 2013 when you realized that there was a need for a religious program. How would you say it's grown since then?
I can say that it was growing in different directions. For example, in the last few years, we are really focusing on sport, where we are bringing the young people, different villages and ethnic backgrounds together, because the sport is something that is bringing young people together. And then we are emphasizing in these sport meetings why we are doing it, and what is there. And I think it developed because we were listening to the stories of the young people, and listening to their ideas of what we can do. As I mentioned, of sport, of music, or study visits; that's something that they do like—summer camps. We are providing that for them. And then, at the same time, we [are] also finding the institutions and organizations who were willing to support us financially in this matter, because they also feel that it's important that the young generations are working on it and that the church is giving its contribution to this peace and reconciliation process in our country after the war. And, I think that's the reason for expanding as much in the last years is because also the institutions, different institutions also recognize that the faith organization can give that contribution, or are invited, or can give something to the peace [and] reconciliation that is specific, and that is also important.
I'm glad to hear that the work that is being done here is being recognized socially and financially, because that's necessary for you to continue. Thank you for sharing that. Next, I'm wondering, how do you see students from different parts of Bosnia from different faiths interacting with each other through the program? You have seen different cohorts of students come every year. What sorts of behavior have you observed in them, and changes, if any?
I see that in the reports that my collaborators are working with them. I am here from time to time, and they invite me as a faith leader or when there is a special discussion, so I am there. But I see that through the reports that, to the evaluation, where we see that they are, they really had a good experience, and that what I heard also, that they are returning to their small towns with this good experience, and we hope that they are bringing it to the society where they are. In what way? We don't know. We cannot follow everything you know. So as a believer, as a Catholic priest, I do believe that God is working in their hearts once they return with this experience to their homes, to their families, because they have the good experience of the others with whom they are living. And I think that the first thing that we have to do in order to overcome the prejudices is to get to know the others.
Once we get to know, once we become familiar with the others who are not our religion or who are not our nation or or about whom we have prejudices, I think that things are slowly changing. So it is a process. I know that sometimes the pressure that those young people have from the media, from the politicians, sometimes, is also strong; from their parents, maybe from their local communities. But at least they had a different experience where they could see that it is possibly different. And we don't know what is everything on, but we do have stories from them, you know, they have their stories. We support their initiatives in their local communities, also, if they want to do something in the sports, to the music, to, you know, to do some summer activities or something. So that's the point where we are trying to stay in contact with them.
That's amazing.
And, that, I think that's a good way. I think that once they had a good, great experience, they return, and that if they want to do something on their own in their local communities, we support them. And that's the change.
I didn't know that there is a lasting connection, even after the students leave.
We try; we invite them, we are in contact, standing contact, with them. And then we give them opportunities to apply for this or for that, if they want to do something, sport activities, or some social activities, or some voluntary action together with the others, or something for the people who are on the margins. So we are there for them.
That's incredible. I think that's probably one of the main reasons why these students feel supported during their time here, and also why so many of them come back. So I think that definitely speaks to the success of these strategies.
We want to encourage them to become the leaders in their communities. Also, to become the leaders in their community in different ways, tomorrow in politics or this and that, but also in this reconciliation and peace programs.
Definitely. On the flip side, I'm wondering if there are any obstacles or challenges that the center has faced in doing this work?
Yes, if you are doing something… I think if you are doing something that, is how would I say, challenging, that is not sometimes something that is accepted by the main medias or there are some people who are not still ready to enter into this peace and reconciliation program, who are still in their heads against it… in the sense that this is something that is going to weaken us if we speak with the others, if we get in contact with the others. We have to be alone. We have to be strong. Sometimes when we invite the young people, their parents are against it. If you would, we go to the schools, and to the parish or church communities or mass communities and so [on], in order to find the young people. Sometimes, some of the faith leaders are also not willing to enter into it, in the sense that they don't want to send their kids to the Catholic institution. Sometimes that happens. It's rare, but it does happen. But nevertheless, we continue to do it with those who are willing; we are always opening our doors to those who are, maybe, sometimes refusing. Maybe they could then come again, back once they realize that is the way.
But I think that is our mission of this institution that we have this program; we have different other programs, OK, but one of the main programs is this program—because we are living in such a context. We cannot now pretend not. We cannot pretend that everything is OK, that the people are living peacefully, and everything is OK, when we see that there are prejudices and there are people who do not want to enter into the contact with the others, to speak with the others. I think that there's a faith institution we are also invited, as I said in the beginning, to give our contribution.
Definitely. Thank you for sharing that. OK, I think a couple of more questions and then we can close off. Are there any aspects of the center’s current approach to interfaith education that you think could be improved or changed in the future?
I cannot say that you know, so if we see that we can improve something, we do it. You know, it's not that I think that, for example, there are few directions that we are developing that we can maybe grow. Those sport activities, that's something important. Study visits, the young people like it. What is that we are also doing? Maybe we can improve, we can develop it a little bit more. It's some voluntary, joint voluntary, actions. Where young people of different religions are doing something for humanitarian reasons, for something to help this family or that family, or something like that. I think, that's, you know, working together for the same cause is something that is bringing people, bringing young people together, and it can grow the trust there. That's something that we are doing. Maybe we can do it a little bit more so, but there, we need also more support from the local communities. Sometimes they are building, sometimes there are some problems. I think that's also one direction that we can maybe work more with some local community leaders. We do work with the schools. That's excellent. So we send to the school our program and then they invite us to come and to speak to the classes about this theme of peace and reconciliation. And that's good. And I think that that's also something that we have to continue. It's a little bit administered, with the administration is very difficult because we have a very complicated government system here in this country. And so we have to have permission from different levels of government in order to enter into the school. So it's very complicated, but we have to continue.
Definitely. It sounds like the connections with the schools, although complicated, are well established, and this works for you. But you would like to see more connections with community leaders?
What does it mean—community leaders? I think schools, and I think more, I would like to see more connections also with the faith leaders.
Faith leaders, OK.
Even we are a faith institution. But sometimes they are not willing; sometimes they have no interest in that. They are peaceful, and they get their comfort zone because everything is alright in their small village, where they are living at home, so they don't see it. But sometimes, it is like that, you know. But nevertheless, there are enough faith leaders who are collaborating, and we are bringing our programs.
That goes back to your earlier observation about monoethnic communities and how there’s a connection between them.
Yes, yes, yes.
OK. Final question. I'm wondering if there is a moment or story from your time at the center that really stands out for you? A significant memory for any reason.
I can say that already, now eight years ago, there was Pope Francis. When he was in Sarajevo, he visited this Youth Center. Yeah. And he wanted really to see young people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, not only Catholics. And we organized the meeting with him where there were Muslims and Orthodox and Christians, and non-believers together, and in front of him, there were dances, songs, and he interacted with the young people. They could ask him questions. It was a great time, and there was one sentence that was very important for me personally, for us, for this Youth Center: when he said and invited the young people—and invited us also working with the young people—to build bridges between each other and not the walls. We are in the world where there are a lot of walls again standing, and, so, and he invited me personally later when I spoke with him, and also everyone of the young people, to build the bridges. And that's a big support for our program and for our interreligious Let's Step Forward Together program.
Thank you for sharing that. That's definitely a very meaningful story. I saw the activity that was taking place the day before yesterday, when the students were doing a bridge-making activity, and I heard that it was based on that visit. Well, those are all the questions that I prepared, but if there's anything that I left out that you think is important to mention, please share.
I would like to say something that—I'm really, I like to always emphasize when I'm speaking about the Youth Center—is that we try to do, with this program, especially, we try to be a sign of hope. With the different programs and as an institution, also. A sign of hope that a better future is possible, that living together is possible, living without hatred, without prejudice about the others is possible. And I would like to believe that with what we are doing and with our activities, we are really becoming always more the sign of hope for the young people of this country.
Thank you. On that very hopeful note, I want to say that I appreciate you taking the time for me because I know that you have a very busy schedule and you're going to be away next week. It was very helpful for my research to be able to talk to you as the head of the organization. So I appreciate that.
Thank you. Thank you for your interest, and thank you for coming here.
Of course.
