Đakovo, (IKA/TU) – At a pre-Easter press conference on March 31 in the residence of the archbishop in Đakovo, Metropolitan Đuro Hranić presented his Easter message and answered questions from journalists.
In connection with the Easter message, in which poverty and deprivation, emigration, and disappointment in the leaders of political, economic and public life are mentioned, the journalists asked the archbishop whether appeals do anything and whether the Church and other entities in society are loud enough to warn the public. He responded as follows: “I am afraid that too much self-sufficiency, egoism, has infiltrated our country at all levels, from us, Church people first of all, and further. Often, unfortunately, in our political life it is most important to come to power, occupy certain positions and defend these positions, whether to achieve some sort of personal or narrow party benefits, and to try to keep those positions as long as possible. Coalitions are only entered to maintain power. All of us need conversion, self-renunciation. Those who are prepared to assume responsibility for the general good should not allow themselves to look out for their own and their parties’ interests; they should not have a partial approach. It is precisely the holy day of Easter that shows us that when a person is prepared to die for himself, God cannot fail to reward him. When someone truly tries to give everything of himself, citizens will recognize it.”
Sharing the experience of recent canonical visitations in the area from Vukovar to Ilok, Archbishop Hranić said: “It is terrible to see how those villages and Ilok have remained empty. This is also politically sensitive because it is at the state border. All together we must assume responsibility, from little, simple people to the local politicians and authorities at the state level who must demonstrate sensitivity for this region that has suffered so much during the war and was the last to begin to rebuild. We often bicker frivolously, playing political games, which are then reflected in Vukovar.” Then he said: “I am sorry when someone leaves because he is not prepared to accept the work offered to him here. I am sorry when someone does not take advantage of the opportunities that we have here. We often look down upon modest possibilities. Faith in the Resurrection gives a person courage and strength to confront difficulties, be steadfast even when it is difficult not to become dispirited, but courageously accept life’s challenges and be stronger than the darkness, evil, selfishness and egoism surrounding us. Asked to comment on the forthcoming visit by the Holy Father to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Archbishop Hranić said that the Holy Father always has pleasant surprises and chooses his destinations in a special way. “If there is anywhere in Europe where there is a potential new source of unrest, where suitable political solutions have not been found that are satisfactory to the nations and the people who live in that territory, it is, unfortunately, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where no one has been satisfied since the Dayton Agreement. The Pope has recognized all the difficulties confronted by that country, and not only by Catholics…
However, the Pope is not coming only because of the Croats but because of all the nations, as a friend of peace, a bearer of the evangelical message… I believe that the moral authority that he has in the world can contribute to the victory of the voice of reason and need for dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect in that region. “It is good for us to go to Sarajevo, to provide moral support for our nation, as well as for all of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which seeks paths of dialogue, peace, shared future prosperity, harmony and friendship.”