Zagreb, (IKA) – The Catholic Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, met with the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Irinej, on Friday, June 8, at the Residence of the Archbishop in Zagreb. Together with the Serbian Patriarch, this meeting was also attended by members of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church: Bishop Vasilije of Srem, Bishop Irinej of Bačka, Bishop Jovan of Šumadija and Metropolitan Jovan of Zagreb-Ljubljana. Cardinal Bozanić was joined by the members of the Permanent Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops: the President of the CCB, Archbishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Osijek, Archbishop Marin Barišić of Split-Makarska and Archbishop Ivan Devčić of Rijeka, as well as the President of the Council of the CCB for Ecumenism and Dialogue, Bishop Vlado Košić of Sisak, and Auxiliary Bishops Valentin Pozaić, Ivan Šaško and Mijo Gorski of Zagreb.
Primarily pastoral issues were discussed regarding the operations of the two Churches in the context of the contemporary social circumstances. The missions of the Churches are aimed at proclaiming and living the gospel of Jesus Christ. In this respect, the central topics concerned current challenges, in the first place valuation of the mystery of life and God’s creation, with particular emphasis on the dignity of a person from conception to natural death, ensuring that biotechnological possibilities are not misused and not transformed into an ideology that is opposed to life. In the discussion, an important place was afforded to the promotion and protection of the institution of the family and values connected with marriage such as the blessed and natural union between a man and a woman.

Building upon these two themes, the Catholic and Orthodox bishops stressed the importance of raising children, in which religious training is an indispensable component. It was said that it is not enough merely to provide education without imparting specific and recognizable values, among which there must be strong social safeguards of the freedom of religion and, accordingly, concern for quality confessional religious instruction in educational institutions. With regard to the relations between the two Churches, common points and areas of existing and potential future cooperation were indicated in the theological, cultural and pastoral areas.

It was observed that the Churches make an indispensable contribution in their commitment to justice and peace among nations, the search for the truth and acting in accordance with it, in order to confront eventual tensions in a suitable manner that arise from the political activities of institutions and individuals. The members of both Churches still suffer from many of the consequences of the war. Therefore, the bishops of both Churches encourage all Church, state and civil institutions at all levels in both counties to work tirelessly to eliminate the consequences of the war, in order to alleviate the suffering of all the afflicted. They support all efforts concerning the return of all refugees and displaced persons to their homes and the exercise of their human and religious rights.

The meeting participants, both as the pastors of their faithful and as citizens of their respective counties, are aware that many issues from the past are still stumbling blocks. The bishops agreed that it is necessary to illuminate events for which there is still insufficient sensitivity among the Croatian and Serbian public. They support the efforts of the commissions that are investigating communist crimes and working to mark the graves of the victims in a proper manner.

Moreover, the bishops of the two Churches urge all those responsible in political and public life, as well as everyone who has some knowledge about persons who have still not been found, who went missing during the war in the 1990s, to help find them or provide information about their graves. This is an exceptional act of humanity and of comfort to families who are in constant pain, some for over two decades. To all who mourn and suffer, the bishops express not only their sorrow but also their human proximity, Christian solidarity and compassion.

The bishops participating in the meeting profoundly desire that all the events from the past should be considered honestly and responsibly, in order to establish sound foundations for life in truth between the members of both nations. This is the only way to heal wounds and view the future with optimism.

The desire was clearly expressed for honest relations to be developed at all levels that will achieve fairness and equally respectful treatment of the Croatian and Serbian populations in the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Serbia.
As it is necessary to approach the past with the light and strength of the gospel, the bishops turned their pastoral concern to the present, particularly urging their faithful to bear witness to their Christian faith and live according to the moral principles entrusted to them by Jesus Christ, in order to serve as leaven in society for a new world, the Kingdom of God.
The desire was expressed for this meeting to be a testimony to the common fundamental Christian values of both Churches and decisively encourage the continuation of cooperation at the level of the Episcopal Commission of the CCB for Dialogue with the Serbian Orthodox Church and the analogous commission of the Holy Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
The Patriarch gave Cardinal a cross that the Serbian Orthodox Church presents to the highest dignitaries. The Cardinal gave the Patriarch a unique work of art, Our Lady of the Stone Gate by the academic artist Damir Mataušić, according to the joint statement issued from the meeting.