As the Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, I had the honor of attending the 100th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Archdiocese of Belgrade, alongside Minister Counselor Prof. Prokic and Embassy Counselor Podavini. The event took place on Tuesday, September 17, at the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Belgrade. The solemn Eucharistic celebration was led by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, together with Archbishop and Metropolitan of Belgrade, Msgr. Ladislav Nemet, Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Serbia, Msgr. Santo Gangemi, and around twenty bishops from Serbia and the surrounding region, as well as more than thirty priests.

Among those present were the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, who was also the primary patron of the centennial celebrations, Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, Minister of Justice Maja Popović, Minister of Labor, Employment, Veterans, and Social Affairs Nemanja Starović, His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church with his delegation, Vladimir Roganović, Director of the Office for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities, numerous ambassadors, military and diplomatic representatives, and leaders of various religious denominations.

Archbishop Nemet opened the celebration by welcoming and thanking all the distinguished guests, offering special thanks to Cardinal Parolin for presiding over the ceremony. He also expressed his appreciation to the Serbian authorities for their support during this milestone event.

Following the Mass, the celebration continued in the dining hall of the Stella Convent restaurant, where the Ars Vocalis choir added to the occasion with their musical performances. The Mass was broadcast live by RTS.

President Aleksandar Vučić marked the centennial with a heartfelt message, saying, “This significant anniversary represents a century of the Archdiocese’s spiritual care for its faithful, as well as its valuable contribution to the interfaith and cultural richness of our nation. The Archdiocese has played a key role in preserving the cultural and spiritual identity of Catholics in Serbia.”

After the Mass, Cardinal Parolin and Archbishop Nemet addressed the media, sharing important reflections:

Cardinal Parolin:

“I am very pleased to have been able to come to Belgrade. It has been a great honor for me. As you heard in the homily, we emphasized that what matters is not the number of the faithful, but the life of this community. To me, it seems that this is a vibrant community with a promising future, and that fills me with joy.”

Archbishop Ladislav Nemet:

“Today, the Archdiocese of Belgrade celebrates 100 years of existence. This is a special moment for all of us to celebrate, and I believe the most important thing is to look back on the work done by our predecessors and those who have contributed to the Catholic Church here in Belgrade. It is also a moment to think about how to move forward. As you saw in the liturgy today, this is a very diverse international community, which is why the prayers and readings were in different languages. Every week, we celebrate Masses in English, German, French, and Spanish, along with Croatian or Serbian, which are always present. We also have many Hungarian parishioners who pray in their language. We are not a homogenous community, but diversity is our strength and source of joy. I thank everyone who came to cover this wonderful event.”

For our delegation, new to its mission, this was an invaluable opportunity to exchange ideas and connect with many religious, civic, and diplomatic leaders.