Zagreb, (IKA) – On Monday, October 30, the solemn act of the blessing of the Main Auditorium by the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, inaugurated the celebration of Catholic University of Croatia Day.

The Archbishop of Zagreb and Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University of Croatia, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, noted that the presence of the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Parolin, inspires us to participate in the universal Church, in the history of the people and nation, and to unite our efforts in seeking and striving for the good of humanity amidst the current complex historical circumstances.
This campus is still also a building site, as can be seen today. It testifies to an awareness and attitude toward what is essential and very important. We rejoice today in this auditorium that the Church of Zagreb has given to young generations in order to further education, science and culture, said Cardinal Bozanić, adding that today we see even more clearly that education, science and culture are areas in which the core values are protected and developed, despite dangerous attempts to incorporate new destructive ideologies.
“May this auditorium and our encounter today help the contemporary Croatian society, suffocated and constricted so many times by fear of the future and earthly anxiety, to be borne by the freshness of the Spirit of God, his truth and his light,” concluded Cardinal Bozanić.

The assembled were then addressed by the Rector of the Catholic University of Croatia, Prof. Željko Tanjić, Ph.D., who noted that this auditorium, one of the largest investments in the area of knowledge in Croatia, was built thanks to the Archdiocese of Zagreb. The Rector thanked Cardinal Bozanić for his concern and fatherly support, which he has consistently demonstrated as the founder of this university, and then asked the guest of the Catholic University of Croatia, Cardinal Parolin, to tell the Holy Father Pope Francis that there is a Catholic university in Zagreb that wants to help the young to persevere in their dreams and hopes.

The Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, then urged those assembled to be proud that their university bears the name “Catholic.” It entrust the university with a special ennobling mission: to perpetuate the living values and ideals of the Gospels and continue to permeate the cultural heritage of the nation with them, said Cardinal Parolin.

The President of the Croatian Rectors’ Conference, Prof. Vlado Guberac, Ph.D., compared the Catholic University of Croatia to a mustard seed because it had achieved so much as a small university in recent years. “May Divine Providence follow you in the years to come, as it has followed you in past years,” concluded Rector Guberac.

“Catholic institutions of higher education have educated thousands of intellectuals, who have become incorporated within the life of the Church and nation. We are proud of this tradition,” said the President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar Kitarović, in her address and added that the Catholic University of Croatia has become a respected stakeholder in Croatian academic life. She mentioned the example of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, who tirelessly promoted the intellectual development of the Croatian people, not only for Catholics but also for all people of good will, a true witness in defense of the truth and opposition to all ideologies.

The blessing of the auditorium was also attended by the Apostolic Nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Msgr. Giuseppe Pinto; the bishops of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, led by its President, Msgr. Želimir Puljić; the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Gordan Jandroković; the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković; government ministers in the Republic of Croatia, members of Parliament, ambassadors, representatives of the civil authorities, representatives of the sister churches and other religious communities, and other representatives of scientific, cultural and public life in Croatia.

The Mixed Student Choir of the Catholic University of Croatian also participated in the program, according to the Press Office of the Archdiocese of Zagreb.