Zagreb, (IKA) – On October 3 in the Zagreb cathedral, a Solemn Mass was held to mark the conclusion of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the death of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac. This was also the date, precisely 12 years ago, when Stepinac was beatified in Marija Bistrica. The commemoration of this anniversary was also enhanced by the conclusion of the 40th Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) that was held in Zagreb from September 30 to October 3.
Therefore, the Mass was presided over by the President of the CCEE, Péter Cardinal Erdő, the Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest. In concelebration were the Vice President of the CCEE, Josip Cardinal Bozanić, the Archbishop of Zagreb; Jean-Pierre Cardinal Ricard, the Archbishop of Bordeaux; the presidents and delegates of the presidents of the bishops’ conferences of the European countries participating in the Plenary Assembly; the Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union, Archbishop André Dupuis; and the Apostolic Nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Mario Roberto Cassari.
In addition to the President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Osijek, the Croatian bishops in concelebration were Archbishop Ivan Devčić of Rijeka, Bishop Ante Ivas of Šibenik, Bishop Vlado Košić of Sisak, Bishop Vjekoslav Huzjak of Bjelovar-Križevci; and Auxiliary Bishops Valentin Pozaić, Ivan Šaško i Mijo Gorski of Zagreb.
At the beginning of the celebration of the Mass, Cardinal Josip Bozanić welcomed those present. He recalled the occasion of the celebration of this Mass and emphasized that this past year which has commemorated the 50th anniversary of the martyred death of Cardinal Stepinac was an opportunity to refresh historical memory and pray for the intercession of the Blessed Alojzije for persevering faith in God, the Catholic Church and the Holy Father.
“Dear Brothers and Sisters: Today with us are cardinals, archbishop and bishops, the presidents of the bishops’ conferences of the European countries who are participating in the 40th Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) in our city. I share the joy of this moment with you, and in your and my behalf I welcome our esteemed and dear guests,” said Cardinal Bozanić.
The President of the CCEE, Cardinal Erdö, thanked Cardinal Bozanić for his hospitality, and thanked the President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Srakić, for the invitation to hold this assembly in Croatia. Cardinal Erdö pointed out that the main topic of this assembly, “Demographics and the Family in Europe,” is an important and vital topic for all the nations of our continent because we are truly in the hands of Divine Providence. “We are here in Croatia, which has always belonged and continues to belong to historical Europe. We have particularly sensed that Croatia belongs to the spiritual Europe because the immense spiritual treasure of Europe is here,” said Cardinal Erdö, noting that the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, whose memorial is being commemorated by this Mass, is a also a great role model in the apostolic ministry of bishops.

At the beginning of the homily, Cardinal Erdö observed that this Mass celebrates a great reality: the seriousness and depth of the commitment of the episcopal ministry, which is manifested in the life of the Blessed Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, who remained faithful even unto martyrdom. “This commitment is also the challenge of the episcopal calling that we, today’s European bishops, must face. When we seek the foundation of our unity, we can find it in the episcopal ordination, which makes us in the most complete way shareholders in the three-fold mission of Christ,” said the cardinal, “because this links today’s bishops to the bishops who lived before us.”
Commenting on the Mass readings, Cardinal Erdö pointed out that the power of faith is manifested in the lives of the saints in every period of Church history. “God’s grace is powerful, able to transform the life of every person. Throughout the history of the Church, the person transformed by grace into the image of Christ appears in various forms. Every saint manifests the power of grace in his or her special way. The twentieth century was a century of great development, with wider recognition of human rights and freedoms in some parts of the world. It was a century that brought full freedom or even sovereignty and a multitude of democratic values to many nations,” said the cardinal, who cautioned that the history of the twentieth century was also a bloodstained history. The most horrifying wars, the most terrible genocide, the greatest injustices and discrimination characterize the previous century. And in the present – at least in the Western world – there are disturbing signs of intellectual weakness and difficulties in making life decisions, such as the choice of professional occupation, the priestly or religious calling, marriage etc. There are also elements of relativism present that threaten to deprive freedom of its positive content and transform it into a merely formal principle. Such freedom, without belief in the truth and its objective values, not to mention all the possible short-term pleasures of this life, ultimately often brings disappointment, bitterness and despair, warned the President of the CCEE, noting that saints illuminated the dark pages of this period with the light of Christ; they are our examples and our heavenly patrons. During the difficult years of the Second World War and communist persecution, individual heads of Churches provided encouraging doctrine for the whole nation, moreover – for the Universal Church. The Blessed Alojzije Viktor Stepinac, cardinal and the archbishop of this city, fought throughout the war for the rights of the victims of persecution and discrimination, thereby enraging the Nazis. After the war, despite attempts to distance him from communion with the Holy See of St. Peter, he always remained faithful to the Catholic Church and the successor of St. Peter.
Cardinal Erdö compared the demeanor of Cardinal Stepinac and Cardinal József Mindszenty in the courtroom. “Two years after Stepinac, in Budapest Cardinal Mindszenty sat equally erect and looked with deep, piercing eyes into the hearts of those who examined him, even in our days. Therefore, it was appropriate that Pope Pius XII in his famous apostolic letter that began with the words “Dum maerenti animo” (While the Spirit is Saddened), published on June 29, 1956, on the occasion of the five hundredth anniversary of the apostolic letter sent by Pope Callisto III to the peoples of Eastern Europe, addressed Cardinals József Mindszenty, Alojzije Stepinac and Stefan Wyszyński, and all the bishops, clergy and laity of the countries of Central Eastern Europe. The three great pastors mentioned by name in this papal letter were exceptional witnesses of the faith. The Archbishop of Zagreb was the first among them to receive the martyr’s crown. Their persons, testimony and spiritual heritage links the peoples of our countries and is a genuine source of true fraternity among Catholics,” said Cardinal Erdö.

“The city of Zagreb fosters particular devotion to Our Lady. The Blessed Virgin Mary, who protects the city at the Stone Gates, is venerated here. Our peoples and our cities relate to the Virgin Mother of God as our own Mother and Protectress. Rightfully so. However, a mother can have several sons, and these sons are true brothers. We pray for the maternal intercession and protection of the Virgin Mary, Mother of the city of Zagreb and Protectress of Croatia, Our Lady and the Mother of all Europe, to protect our peoples, our continent, and to grant us new vitality for our Christian witness and episcopal service in these new times,” said Cardinal Erdö at the end of his homily.

Following the prayer after Holy Communion, Cardinals Erdö, Bozanić and Ricard went to the tomb of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, where Cardinal Bozanić led a prayer for the canonization of the Blessed Alojzije.
Prior to the blessing, Cardinal Erdö, on behalf of the presidents of the bishops’ conferences of Europe, expressed gratitude to Cardinal Bozanić and the entire Church in Croatia for the beautiful and warm celebration. “I thank God that we did not merely debate and discuss but that we were able to participate in prayer fellowship in the power of grace around this altar of the Lord. I pray to the Lord to create a new era in Europe, to grant us your power and light at this time which is, thank God, peaceful but by no means simple. We need God’s inspiration, His strength and light in order to respond in a Christian way at this time which is by no means simple,” said Cardinal Erdö.
The Mass was enhanced by the singing of the Men’s Cathedral Choir and the Choir of the St. Mathew Parish of Dugave, Zagreb.