Poreč, (IKA) – Msgr. Dražen Kutleša was ordained as the Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of Poreč and Pula on Saturday, December 10, in the Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč. In addition to the main consecrator who conducted the Mass, the Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, Cardinal Marc Ouellet; the co-consecrators Bishop Ivan Milovan of Poreč and Pula and Bishop Ratko Perić of Mostar-Duvno, the concelebrants were Archbishop Josip Cardinal Bozanić of Zagreb, Archbishop Cardinal Vinko Puljić of Sarajevo; the President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Osijek, and approximately thirty archbishops and bishops, including the General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, Archbishop Nikola Eterović; and many colleagues of the newly ordained bishop, especially from Rome. A multitude of the faithful from Istria, throughout Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina were also gathered at the Mass. Msgr. Kutleša was accompanied to the altar by Don Ante Kutleša and Don Marko Kutleša. The participants in the celebration were welcomed by the local Ordinary Bishop, Msgr. Ivan Milovan. Cardinal Ouellet conveyed greetings from Pope Benedict XVI to all. The apostolic letter on the appointment of Msgr. Kutleša was read by the Apostolic Nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Mario Roberto Cassari.
Bishop Perić, for whom the newly appointed bishop had been a secretary and colleague in the Episcopal Ordinariate in Mostar, addressed Msgr. Kutleša, saying that he had been called by the current successor to the fisherman Peter to be a “fisherman of men” on the largest Croatian peninsula of Istria. “You accepted your election in the faith of Christ the Savior and in fidelity to his visible Vicar, the Pope, placing at his disposal your gifts and work,” he said, and recalled that in Jesus’ school of theology the students leaned two basic systems of discipline. One was the system of various truths and the other was the system of commandments: “We accept these truths in their entirety, with profound gratitude to God and his Church, with love and respect, and preach them with our strength and dedication. Moreover, we cannot do so by ourselves but only with God and his grace,” said Bishop Perić. There is one more system—the system of the administration of institutions and charisms. Everyone in the Church is judged by those whom God sent first as apostles and then by their successors. Here, Don Dražen, the Spirit has sent you through the Pope’s choice to be the bearer of great tasks: docendi, sanctificandi et gubernandi. You will not be able to handle them alone but in cooperation with Bishop Milovan and the other bishops of the Rijeka Metropolis and the Croatian Conference of Bishops, with all the priests of Istria and the people of God. No little hope has been placed in you. Great confidence has been entrusted in you,” said Bishop Perić.
At the end of the celebration, Bishop Kutleša expressed emotions of filial respect and gratitude to Pope Benedict XVI, who had entrusted him with the office of Bishop Coadjutor of this ancient diocese. “Together with Bishop Milovan, who received me fraternally, and in cooperation with the priests, religious and active faithful and Catholics throughout Istria, I firmly hope that we shall work together in order to contribute to the spiritual rebirth of our Croatian land,” said Bishop Kutleša, and recalled that this diocese with its clergy and faithful had gone through many trials and suffering that have left painful wounds, which must be systematically healed with abundant love, as the pastors Dobrila, Nežić, Bogetić and Milovan have done. The correct remedy is in prayer, love in mutual forgiveness, listening to the national soul and hard work for the common good, said Bishop Kutleša, inviting the diocesan and religious priests to effective community and unity, so that they can serve the local Church as one body and one soul. Greeting the assembled representatives of the city and county authorities, he expressed the desire to have good and friendly relationships in the service of the spiritual and material well-being of the faithful of Istria.