Pip's crosses adorn the chambers of the leaders of the Vatican

Filip Jovović from Stari Bar is the only one from Baran who can boast that two of his handiwork adorn the residences of Pope Francis and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the State Secretary of the Holy See.

The first gift - a stylized cross made of olive wood by the popular Pipa - was presented to the Pope in February of last year by the archbishop of Bar, Rok Đonlesaj, and the second was officially received by the second man of the Vatican personally in Bar, on his name day, in the cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Topolica, last Friday. On the Catholic St. Peter's Day, Cardinal Parolin celebrated the holy mass, and Pip's cross with the arms of brotherly love, also made of olive wood, caused the admiration of all who saw it.

"When it was announced that Cardinal Parolin would visit us, the archbishop asked me to make him an authentic gift from this area. I decided that it would be a cross again, of course made of olive wood, but not the same as the one that was presented to the Pope. I was looking for a motif, I found this one that I liked because it has strong symbolism - a message of love for people of other religions. I made several versions, presented them to the archbishop, and in the end the final version was chosen", a well-known Bar olive grower and souvenir maker tells "Vijesta".

Descendant of one of the oldest families in Bar - which for centuries has been connected with the Archdiocese and olive groves in Gretva, in Stari Bar, and whose ancestor Vasilj was the prefect of Bar and Šušanje in the XNUMXth century - Jovović is today recognized and loved in Bar as an activist and humanitarian.

He is currently unemployed and lives by making and selling souvenirs at fairs, and since 2003 he has been turning dried olive trees into unique gifts on his family property.

"A gift for the state secretary of the Holy See is an extraordinary honor and pride, not only for me personally as a citizen and as a believer, but also for my family, Gretva and the parish of Bar, so I can't go any further."

He got confused without his jacket, but everything was fine

Pipo says that making the cross for the State Secretary of the Holy See was a great honor for him, so he didn't think much about how the handover would go.

"It's a big deal who will deliver the gift."

He says that he still experienced a big surprise during the mass, where there were many believers and guests.

"Then they told me that I would personally hand over the cross to the cardinal. I was confused, I asked what I would do if he asked me something because I don't know Italian, I didn't even bring a tie, and in that confusion I forgot to put on the jacket I brought to the cathedral. Don Simo Ljuljić told me: 'Everything will be fine', and it was. I understood the cardinal's 'gracie' (thank you) when I handed over the cross”.