Josip Vancaš was assigned to make a Sarajevo cathedral project in 1883. The cathedral was designed with room for 1,200 people, with a very simple exterior.

The location was long thought about, some locations were unsuitable, others too expensive. The Municipality helped, and offered this land, that was bought earlier for the construction of a market. The choice was the square that was soon named Church Square, and today it is known as the Fra Grga Martic square.

The cathedral was completed in 1889, in Early Gothic style, and Josip Vancaš found inspiration in the Notre Dame church in Dijon. There are 6 bells in the cathedral's towers, received as a gift from the Slovenian people. The bishop of Pogačar was in charge for their procurement, but since he died before he finalised his intention, the bishop Jakob Missia took over. The bells were cast at the Samasse workshop in Ljubljana.

 The interior of the church is richly decorated, and the fresco painting was done by the famous Italian-German painter Alexander Maximilian Seitz. Inside the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is the tomb of Joseph Stadler and Archbishop of Vrhbosna from the early 20th century, who was the one who initiated the construction of the Cathedral. In front of the entrance to the church is a monument to Pope John Paul II, who visited Sarajevo in 1997. and sent a message of peace and tolerance after the war ended.

The Cathedral of Sarajevo is the central Catholic cathedral in BiH. In its immediate vicinity are the Catholic Faculty of Theology and Seminary and the Archdiocesist building, where Pope John Paul II also resided during his visits to Sarajevo in 1996 and 2003. His statue now decorates the square in front of the cathedral, a place of gathering and socializing.

Numerous summer gardens and cafe-restaurants make this square one of the main gathering places for Sarajevans and their guests.

The Holy Mass at the Cathedral is every day at 8.00 and 18.00, and on Sundays at 12.00 the Mass is in English language.