Zagreb, (IKA) – The Croatian edition of The Holy See and the Republic of Croatia: Twenty Years of Diplomatic Relations (1992–2012), published by the City of Zagreb, ALFA d.d. and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia was presented on Wednesday, November 19, at the Dverce Palace in Zagreb.
On behalf of the host city of Zagreb, those assembled were welcomed by Deputy Mayor Vesna Kusin, who briefly reflected on the relationship between the Holy See and Croatia and on the fact that the City of Zagreb contributed to the publication of the Italian and Croatian editions.
The President of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Ivo Josipović, spoke about the exceptionally important contribution by the Holy See to the independence and international recognition of the Republic of Croatia. He noted that the period of more than twenty years of building diplomatic relations between the two states was marked by three popes, three exceptional men: Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. All three are inscribed in the hearts of Croatian Catholics and enjoy the deep respect of the majority of Croatian citizens, he said, adding that the “passage of time bears witness to the intense and constructive bilateral relations of the two countries,” with mutual good will in an atmosphere of dialogue. “The previous presidents of Croatia, the prime ministers, the Croatian Conference of Bishops and its presidents, and representatives of Croatia and Vatican diplomacy have all contributed to fostering these relations.” President Josipović also mentioned the Apostolic Nuncios, from Giulio Einaudi, Francisco Javier Lozano and Mario Roberto Cassario, to the present Nuncio, Alessandro D’ Errico, as well as the Ambassadors of the Republic of Croatia to the Holy See, Ivo Livljanić, Marijan Šunjić, Franjo Zenko, Emilio Marin and the current Ambassador, Filip Vučak. Their contribution to the nurture and development of good relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Holy See is exceptionally important, emphasized Dr. Josipović. He also mentioned that the signing of four contracts between Croatia and the Holy See several years after the establishment of diplomatic relations and their implementation resulted in the expansion of the rights of Catholics and the Catholic Church as the largest religious community. Following the adoption of the Legal Position of Religious Communities in the Republic of Croatia Act, a series of similar contracts have been signed between the states and nineteen smaller religious communities to date, thereby providing for the expansion of the rights and freedoms of other citizens/believers, and the affirmation of other religious communities, said Dr. Josipović.
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Holy See was an important step, as the beginning of the path toward the affirmation of Croatia as an independent and sovereign country. These days, with sadness but also with pride and piety, we recall those times. Yesterday in Vukovar, a place that is one of the most important foundations of our country, we paid our respects to all those who gave their lives for the dignified and better lives of our children, each of us and our homeland. The presentation of this important book is an opportunity for us to reflect upon this again today, said President Josipović.
The Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, commented on the symbolism of the timing of the presentation of the book, when Europe is commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a key event in the collapse of communist totalitarianism that opened a new page of history for the nations of Europe. Seen in the broader context, it also made the events in Croatia during the 1990s possible. As St. Pope Wojtyla said in Marija Bistrica on October 3, 1998, a historic day for the Croatian nation, twentieth century Europe was “marked by three great evils: fascism, Nazism and communism.” While the fascist and Nazi regimes crumbled with the end of the Second World War in 1945, the communist regime continued its tyranny after the Second World War, imposed by force on the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. These events are connected with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the new breath of freedom in the late 1980s and early 1990s that made the destruction of the communist regimes possible. These evils by which the last century was marked left victims and ruination. Scientists estimate, as mentioned in this book, that fascism and Nazism took the lives of over 55 million people. It is more difficult to obtain data about the drama of the communist regime. Scientists have the task of illuminating the past, based on comparative historical sources, said the cardinal, and same task awaits Croatian scientists because many facts in our country are still concealed by a veil of silence.
He also spoke about the contracts signed between the Catholic Church and the Holy See, which opened a new path of relations with other religious communities. The contracts between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia have international significance. They do not stipulate any kind of privileged position for the Catholic Church but were signed in an atmosphere of the application of the generally recognized principles of religious freedom. The contracts promote transparent relations between the Church and state, while their norms protect the Church from eventual abuses by authorities.
The Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Alessandro D’Errico, spoke of the cordial and close relationship between the Holy See and the Croatian people, which goes back more than a thousand years, to 879. These powerful bonds have not weakened over the centuries and were an inspiration for the relations from 1992 to the present. The Nuncio recalled Pope John Paul II’s particular concern for the Croatian nation, as evidenced by his three visits to Croatia.
The Nuncio aIso referred to the signed contracts between the Republic of Croatia and the Holy See, pointing out that they are a tangible sign of excellent relations. Eighteen years after the signing of the first three contracts and sixteen years after the signing of the contract on economic issues, it can be stated that their implementation has essentially been positive. The contract that still requires additional attention and implementation is the one on economic issues, regarding the section on the return of properties confiscated during the Yugoslav communist regime, said Nuncio D’Errico.
Speaking about Croatia in the European context, the Nuncio pointed out that in the vision of Europe with two lungs, as John Paul II often said, it is not surprising that the Holy See has offered Croatia unconditional support in the process of European integration. Looking toward the European future of Croatia, it is our wish to make it possible for Croatia, like other nations with deep Christian roots, to make a particular contribution of spiritual and moral values to Europe, that is, those values that for centuries have shaped the individual and national identities of its children, said Nuncio D’Errico.
The Croatian Ambassador to the Holy See, Filip Vučak, expressed his happiness that the incentive for this edition originated from the Croatian Embassy in the Holy See and explained how the book came to exist. Prime Minister Zoran Milanović made an official visit to the Vatican on October 29, 2012. Since the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in cooperation with the Secretariat of State of the Holy See had occurred in February of that year, that day at the headquarters of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences a symposium was organized in which the participants included experts on these relations and the direct protagonists of these events from the Vatican side. It rarely happens at such meetings for the prime minister, minister of justice, three cardinals, three archbishops and two ambassadors to speak, and this in the heart of the Vatican, in the headquarters of the Pontifical Academy of Science. It was also here that President Josipović spoke during his visit to the Vatican last year, before the diplomatic corps and representatives of the Roman Curia, about the problems of transition in Croatia. Conducting international conferences in this elite place is a privilege that is not afforded to all embassies in the Holy See. Those who are acquainted with the situation in the Vatican know very well what I am talking about. Therefore, these facts testify to our solid relations with the Holy See, said Ambassador Vučak, pointing out that Libreria editrice Vaticana agreed to publish the proceedings, which, with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the City of Zagreb, were published in anticipation of the official visit to the Vatican by President Josipović in October 2013. The Italian edition was presented a year ago at the Pontifical Croatian Institute of St. Jerome in Rome. The good reception received by this edition prompted those who prepared it to find a Croatian publisher. On this occasion, Ambassador Vučak thanked the publishing house ALFA and the City of Zagreb, which once again supported this project. We wanted the book to be issued in Croatia on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s First Apostolic Visit to Croatia, which was commemorated two months ago, about which President Josipović wrote in his foreword to the Croatian edition of the proceedings. We also thank the President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Želimir Puljić of Zadar, whose text for this edition presents his view of relations with the Holy See, said Ambassador Vučak.
The book presentation was attended by representatives of the Catholic Church and other religious communities, Croatian ministries and scientific institutions.