The 51st Plenary Session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, presided over by Msgr. Želimir Puljić, Archbishop of Zadar, was held in Zagreb from November 10 to 12, 2015. At the session, in addition to the members of the CCB, the Apostolic Nuncio in the Republic Croatia, Archbishop Alessandro D’Errico; the delegate from the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Auxiliary Bishop Marko Semren of Banja Luka; and the guests, Bishop Ivan Penzeš of Subotica and BishopĐuro Gašparović of Srijem, participated.

Welcoming those present at the beginning of the session, the President of the CCB commented on several events that had occurred since the previous ordinary plenary session and singled out some of the topics to be discussed at the current session. He particularly emphasized the Fourteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on “the vocation and mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world,” which Pope Francis said was “a moment of grace that the Church was experiencing.” In reference to the recently held parliamentary elections, Archbishop Puljić said that they demonstrated the usual advantages and disadvantages, noting that it seems to the bishops that the society is nevertheless making progress in the adoption of the rules of democracy. He wished those elected by the voters much strength, wisdom and harmony in the exercise of their honorable work in the Parliament and Government of the Republic of Croatia. Bishop Antun Škvorčević, as the delegate of the CCB to the Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops held in Rome, acquainted the bishops with the events of the Synod, the final document and the atmosphere that prevailed among the many participants from around the world.He stressed that it was held in a fraternal and calm atmosphere, in many ways different from how the media wanted to present it. He pointed out that the final document of the Synod contains valuable incentives, which should be transferred to our pastoral practice. In this regard, he emphasized the importance of coordinating the existing program of courses on preparation for marriage with needs that reflect the contemporary problems of marriage and the family, placing particular emphasis on issues concerning the faith of an engaged couple wanting to enter a sacramental marriage. In addition, he noted the need for serious pastoral ministry to divorced persons in the manner directed by Pope Francis.

At the session, the bishops discussed certain parts of the celebration of the Holy Year of Mercy, which the Pope will formally inaugurate on December 8, 2015.The Pope has decreed that on the Third Sunday of Advent, a Door of Mercy shall be opened in every local church. Bishop Škvorčević particularly stressed the importance of the Pope’s guidelines for the celebration of the Jubilee in religious communities, in which the Pope encourages pilgrimages, acts of physical and spiritual mercy, parish spiritual renewal (mission) and Marian devotion, with emphasis on listening to God’s Word and silence. Among the sacraments, focus during the Jubilee Year will be centered upon the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
In connection with the process of the canonization of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, the bishops of the CCB issued a special statement, as they are aware of a certain anxiety among the people and encountering numerous questions. The bishops particularly noted that in a gesture by Pope Francis, who proposed the establishment of a working group of experts from the Catholic Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church, the bishops see an opportunity for the truth about the Blessed Alojzije to be heard more clearly and at the highest level, concluding that this task under the auspices of the Holy See will have resonance throughout the entire world.They also expressed their joy that there have been repeated confirmations that the Holy Father has no doubts concerning the sanctity of Cardinal Stepinac and the process of canonization has been brought to its conclusion. In this spirit, the Croatian Conference of Bishops is at the disposal of Pope Francis and the Holy See in everything that will be needed to explain certain issues to the Serbian Orthodox Church regarding the life and activity of Archbishop Stepinac. In this initiative by the Holy Father, the bishops see a genuine opportunity, with the help of the Holy See, for the truth about the Blessed Stepinac to become even more evident in Croatia and the world, because he is a treasure whose significance is even broader than the framework of the Catholic Church.

In the bishops’ concern for the optimal organization of Catholic elementary and middle schools, they devoted particular attention to the debate on the coordination of the Statutes of Catholic Schools and the continuing formation of the staffs in these schools. A draft of the Pilot Statutes of Catholic Schools was referred for further work.
The bishops considered and approved translations of the Pope’s Apostolic Letters issued Motu Proprio, Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus, on the reform of canonical procedure for the annulment of marriage in the Code of Canon Law, and Mitis etmisericorsIesus,on the reform of canonical procedure for the annulment of marriage in the Code of Canons of the Oriental Churches. In the discussion, it was noted that the Church in Croatia has established a satisfactory network of ecclesiastical courts, according to which annulment proceedings are decided by court tribunals, which should continue to be regular practice
The members of the CCB devoted particular attention to the activity of Caritas Croatia in addressing the refugee crisis, which began in Croatia in mid-September and has continued through the present, without clear indications of how long it could last.From the first day of the crisis, Caritas Croatia has been actively engaged through the delivery of food, toiletries and other material goods, as well as the organization of volunteers. At the very beginning, an appeal was issued via Caritas Internationalis, to which branches of Caritas from various parts of the world responded.
At the session, the members of the CCB approved an updated edition of the Catholic Religious Education Curriculum for Preschool Children.
There was also discussion on the draft of the Regulations of the CCB, which was referred for further work.
The bishops decided on the mandates in individual bodies of the CCB. After the expiration of the mandate of the Archbishop of Zagreb, Josip CardinalBozanić, he was reelected as the Vice President of the CCB. New members of the Permanent Council of the CCB were elected: Archbishop Đuro Hranić of Đakovo-Osijek andBishop DraženKutleša of Poreč-Pula. The bishops expressed their gratitude to the former long-time President of the Council of the CCB for Life and the Family, Bishop ValterŽupan, for his dedicated work and service, and Bishop Mate Uzinić of Dubrovnik was elected as the new President of the Council.
Bishop DraženKutleša of Poreč-Pula was chosen as the new President of the Episcopal Commission of the CCB for Relations with the State, following the expiration of the mandate of the former President of the Commission, Archbishop Josip Cardinal Bozanić of Zagreb.
The mandates were extended for the President of the Council of the CCB for Catechesis and New Evangelization, Archbishop Đuro Hranić; the President of the Council of the CCB for Missions, Bishop Slobodan Štambuk; the President of the Committee of the CCB for the Young, Bishop Mijo Gorski; and the President of the Committee of the CCB forPastoral Ministry to the Incarcerated, BishopNikola Kekić.
Reports on the activities of individual bodies of the CCB were also submitted at the session.
A pastoral-catechetical colloquium for priests will take place on February 24 and 25, 2016. Next autumn, a symposium is planned on the occasion of 25 years of religious education in the primary and secondary schools of the Republic of Croatia. An Extraordinary Session of the CCB will be held on January 25, 2016. The next Spring Session of the CCB will be held from April 5 to 7, 2016, and the Autumn Session from October 11 to 13, 2016. The Ordinary Annual Session of the Members of the CCB with Religious Provincials, Members of the Croatian Conference of the Heads of Religious Orders and Mother Superiors with Headquarters in the Territory of the CCB will be held on June 7, 2016.

Secretariat of the CCB