The Archbishop of the Catholic Church in Bosnia, Vinko Puljic, is turning 75 on Tuesday and told the media that he will offer his resignation to Pope Francis, in accordance with the established practice.

“It’s my obligation to offer my resignation, and what he (the Pope) will do about it, I don’t know,” Puljic told the catholic ‘Nedjelja.ba’ news portal, adding that he will do whatever Pope Francis decides.

Puljic said that he will not stop spreading the faith and that he would continue to stand for justice and equality of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Earlier this year, Pope Francis appointed Tomo Vuksic to the post of Coadjutor Archbishop in Bosnia and named Petar Palic the Bishop of Mostar and Duvanj, the Hina news agency reported.

Palic, the former bishop of Hvar, in Croatia, should take over his new post in Mostar from 86-year-old Ratko Peric on September 13.

Cardinal Puljic said that the Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina is now facing the challenge of adapting to demands this new time brings with it, adding that this also implies its internal reorganization.

“We must be a recognizable church,” he said.