Zagreb, (IKA) – On the eve of the central event in the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the anniversary of the beatification of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, a vigil was held in the Zagreb cathedral on September 20. During the first hour of the vigil, there was a meditative musical program organized by the Office for Pastoral Ministry to Young People of the Zagreb Archdiocese. Young people, including members of associations and movements, filled the cathedral. They reflected upon excerpts from addresses that Archbishop Stepinac delivered to the young on various occasions. The young people welcomed the secretary of state of the Holy See, Cardinal Tariosio Bertone, who was accompanied by the archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić; the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops and archbishop of Đakovo-Osijek, Marin Srakić; the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia and archbishop, Mario Roberto Cassari, and a number of Croatian bishops.
In words of greeting, Cardinal Bozanić pointed out that remembrance of the beatification of Cardinal Stepinac also means remembrance of the beloved and unforgettable Pope John Paul II and his second visit to our Church and the Croatian nation.

Cardinal Bertone pointed out that the young are the future and hope of the society and Church in Croatia. The future of humanity depends upon the new generations, said Cardinal Bertone and noted that Pope Benedict XVI views the young with confidence. Cardinal Bertone then reminisced about this year’s World Youth Day held in Sydney and urged the young persons in the Zagreb cathedral to experience the evening in that spirit. “Dear young people, do not let the spirit of the world attract you. Remain awake and alert. Be vigilant and pray that you do not fall into temptation,” said Cardinal Bertone and called upon the young to feel that they are loved by Jesus, as they are, with their virtues and weaknesses, because only his love can make them truly happy. “Let us go together toward Heaven, doing good on this earth, loving our friends and enemies, first of all helping our peers to find the genuine meaning of life, encountering Jesus and discovering the beauty of belonging to the Christian community, the Church. The Church is your family and, like every family, needs you young people and your enthusiasm, so that through your joyfulness and generosity, your testimony and service of the needy in various forms of volunteerism, it can show Christ’s face to the people of today.” At the end of Cardinal Bertone’s address, he noted that the young have an exceptional model, the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, an example of a Christian life for our days.

As a sign of their awareness of the meaning of the cross, young people brought a cross to the altar which the Blessed Stepinac had carried through the streets of Jerusalem on the occasion of a Croatian national pilgrimage in the year 1937. The vigil was animated by the singing of the newly formed Youth Choir of the Zagreb Archdiocese.