Zagreb, (IKA) – The Feast of Our Lady of the Stone Gate, patron of the City of Zagreb, was celebrated on May 31 with a Mass in the Zagreb Cathedral and a candlelight procession during which a portrait of Our Lady was carried. The Mass was conducted by the Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, who served as personal secretary to the Blessed Pope John Paul II for many years. Cardinal Dziwisz presented the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, and the Zagreb Church with a vial containing the blood of the Blessed Pope, which the faithful greeted with enthusiastic applause. “Knowing your love for the Blessed John Paul II, I brought you an unusual gift, a relic of the Blessed Pope. May this relic be a symbol that he loved you. For young people, may it be a symbol so that they will remember how a man called Pope John Paul II lived,” said Cardinal Dziwisz.
In words of greeting, Cardinal Bozanić expressed his joy at the presence of Cardinal Dziwisz, whom he briefly introduced, emphasizing how “Cardinal Dziwisz in a unique way represents the proximity and love of the Blessed Pope John Paul II, at the same time also linking us with the dear Polish people.” As a symbol of this mutual bond, Cardinal Bozanić presented his dear guest with a portrait of Our Lady of the Stone Gate.

In Cardinal Dziwisz’s homily, which he delivered in the Croatian language, he modestly commented that he is aware that he could thank his special connection with the Blessed Pope John Paul II, whom he served for nearly 40 years, for the honor of being invited to this event. Stressing that Croats had a special place in the heart of John Paul II, Cardinal Dziwisz recalled that the beatus was with us during difficult times, at the beginning of the 1990s, when a high price had to be paid for ardently desired freedom and independence. “He gave you strength at these moments and was convinced, repeating the words of the psalmist, that when ‘the Lord gives strength to his people, the Lord blessed his people with peace.’ The Holy Father experienced the war in the Balkans profoundly. When the conditions were created in September 1994, he came to you to express the solidarity of the whole Church with you,” said Cardinal Dziwisz, commenting: “I remember how you affectionately and warmly greeted him, with tears in your eyes. In them was suffering but also immeasurable joy.” The Archbishop of Krakow spoke during the homily about the three Apostolic Visits by Pope John Paul II to Croatia and the messages that he addressed to all Croats.
“John Paul II left a powerful legacy of doctrine to the Church. He wrote encyclicals and apostolic letters, provided thousands of catecheses, speeches and homilies. His teachings and positions contributed to the sociopolitical changes in Europe, the fall of the communist system that for decades had destroyed our nations and human consciences. John Paul II wanted the nations of our continent, mindful of their Christian roots and heritages, to remain faithful to the Gospel, which through the centuries has shaped the nations spiritually. It is necessary to bear this in mind when Croatia is joining the united Europe. There is a great challenge before Jesus’ disciples. In this world, you can and must invest in the building of a genuine Europe, a Europe based on Christian values, a Europe of justice and solidarity,” said the Archbishop of Krakow.
After the prayer following communion, the portrait of Our Lady of the Stone Gate was removed from the main altar and taken from the cathedral. Then there was a candlelight procession in which all the concelebrants and faithful returned the portrait to its place at the Stone Gate. A votive candle was lit before the portrait by Mayor Milan Bandić of Zagreb.
At the Stone Gate, before the portrait of Our Lady, the words of the Blessed John Paul II that he addressed to Our Heavenly Mother during his first Apostolic Visit to our country were repeated by Cardinal Dziwisz, followed by the Magnificat. Then there was a prayer of consecration to Our Lady, which Cardinal Bozanić spoke as he knelt. The celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of the Stone Gate concluded with a solemn blessing bestowed by Cardinals Dziwisz and Bozanić.

The concelebrants of the Mass were the host, Cardinal Bozanić; the President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Osijek; Archbishop Ivan Devčić of Rijeka; the President of the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bishop Franjo Komarica of Banja Luka; Bishop Ivan Penzeš of Subotica; the Military Ordinary in the Republic of Croatia, Bishop Juraj Jezerinac; Bishop Vlado Košić of Sisak, Bishop Nikola Kekić of the Eparchy of Križevci, Bishop Vjekoslav Huzjak of Bjelovar-Krivževci; Auxiliary Bishops Valentin Pozaić, Ivan Šaško and Mijo Gorski of Zagreb; the Chargé d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in the Republic of Croatia, Msgr. Mauro Lalli; the General Secretary of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Msgr. Enco Rodinis, and a hundred priests from the Ecclesiastical Province of Zagreb. A multitude of the faithful participated in the Mass, including groups wearing traditional costumes from the area below Mt. Medvešćak and Poland, as well as a large number of religious, religious candidates, and members of Church movements and associations.