Zagreb, (IKA) – The newly appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Alessandro D’Errico, led the celebration of Mass at the Zagreb cathedral on Sunday, July 8, as the inauguration of his mission in Croatia. At the beginning of the celebration of the Mass, on behalf of the assembled bishops, priests, religious and faithful, the new Nuncio was welcomed by the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, who briefly introduced him as the representative Pope Benedict XVI appointed to the Republic of Croatia on May 21.

In Nuncio D’Errico’s homily, he conveyed a special blessing and greetings from the Holy Father. “During my years of service in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Montenegro, I was always impressed by his thorough knowledge of the region and the particular attention with which he followed the not always easy Christian testimony of your community. In recent weeks on various occasions, among other things, he talked to me about the great dynamism of the faith of the Croatian people, the close connection between the Croatian cultural tradition and the living Church, and the long history of fidelity that connects Croatia with the Holy See. He also asked me to convey once again to you the lively hope that many positive fruits from this ecclesial vitality will come for the entire society, especially today when sometimes it seems that there is a lack of supports to connect us that we could count upon with confidence. Indeed, especially today, more so than in the past, bearing in mind that Croatian independence was declared twenty years ago and that it is twenty years since Croatia entered the great family of the United Nations, your country is only a step away from full integration into the European Union. Due to Croatia’s history and geographical position, it is an integral part of European society. It is the desire of the Holy Father for Croatia, as well as other nations with a strong Christian tradition, to offer Europe a special contribution of spiritual and moral values, the values that have shaped the personal and national identities of its inhabitants for centuries,” said the Nuncio.

Commenting on his new office, the Nuncio said that he feels “a strong sense of personal unworthiness for such a very demanding office as the Pope’s representative to a country as important to the Holy See as Croatia, at such a significant moment in its history.” “I am counting very much on your prayers. They will help us confront the challenges together that the state and people of God in Croatia must face,” he said.
“In the process of the new evangelization, so important to His Holiness and this episcopate, from now on I guarantee that I will be happy if I can do anything on my part in the common search for incentives and proposals that—in the many centuries of the experience of faith in this community—will allow the Church in Croatia to be faithful to its mission and continue its presence in the culture and society. I will happily make my contribution to fruitful cooperation with the authorities and civil institutions. I am convinced that we shall be able to work together well with all persons of good will, in an atmosphere of open, positive and constructive dialogue—dialogue which here, as elsewhere in the region, must set aside the inherent tensions from the recent past and place a higher value upon that which is shared in common than upon that which divides,” he said.

Following the prayer after communion, on behalf of the Croatian episcopate, the President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Osijek, welcomed the Nuncio.
“We are aware that you are assuming a responsible office. We guarantee you prayers for the Lord to bless and protect you, to be close to you in the light of the Holy Spirit in your service to the High Priest in our Church and our society. We are confident that with your broad knowledge of the ecclesial, cultural and political situation and your experience, prudence and patience, you will successfully perform the responsible office entrusted to you by the Holy Father for the good of the Church and the Croatian society. You have come among your people. We receive you and by our presence confirm our centuries of fidelity to the Church of Christ and the Holy See,” said Archbishop Srakić.

At the end of the Mass, Nuncio D’Errico noted that in accordance with the tradition of the Holy See, a nuncio brings letters of accreditation. The first is to the president of the country, which he will deliver in the coming days, and the other is addressed to the president of the conference of bishops. On this occasion, it is a letter in which the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, presented him to the President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Srakić. When the Nuncio presented it, he pointed out that this gesture has great ecclesial significance and urged those present to accompany this act with prayer. He bestowed a special blessing from the Holy Father upon the faithful, which offers the possibility for complete indulgence under the usual conditions.

In concelebration together with Cardial Bozanić and Archbishop Srakić were the President of the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bishop Franjo Komarica of Banja Luka; Archbishop Ivan Devčić of Rijeka, Bishop Josip Mrzljak of Varaždin, Bishop Vjekoslav Huzjak of Bjelovar-Križevci, Bishop Dražen Kutleša of Poreč and Pula; Auxiliary Bishops Valentin Pozaić, Ivan Šaško and Mijo Gorski of Zagreb; and the General Secretary of the CCB, Msgr. Enco Rodinis.
A choir of Zagreb seminarians sang during the Mass.