Zagreb, (IKA) – On September 19, the secretary of state of the Holy See, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, blessed the premises of the Croatian Catholic University in Zagreb. The ceremony was attended by the prime minister of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Ivo Sanader, ministers, deputy rectors of the University of Zagreb, Mayor Milan Bandić of Zagreb, the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Mario Roberto Cassari; Croatian archbishops and bishops, led by the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Marin Srakić; and other dignitaries. In words of greeting, Archbishop Cardinal Josip Bozanić of Zagreb emphasized that this is an exceptional celebration and event. He reminisced about the establishment of this university and spoke of current efforts and future plans. He recalled that at the October 12, 2004 session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops in Zadar, the decision was adopted to initiate the procedure for the establishment of a Catholic university, to be founded by the Zagreb Archdiocese and sponsored by the Croatian Conference of Bishops. Cardinal Bozanić expressed particular joy that the idea of the Catholic university is enthusiastically supported by numerous lay faithful from scientific and academic circles, both in Croatia and other countries. Three months following the decision by the Croatian Conference of Bishops, on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, 2005, the cardinal appointed the Commission for the Establishment of the Catholic University in Zagreb, led by its chairman, Dr. Ivan Šaško, who is now an auxiliary bishop of Zagreb. At the very beginning, besides assembling personnel and devising courses of study, it was necessary to find premises for the future university. Cardinal Bozanić expressed his gratitude that the Government of the Republic of Croatia, particularly Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, recognized the value of this initiative and helped provide solutions. Valuable cooperation was also provided by government ministers. The cardinal expressed particular thanks to the minister of science, education and sports, Dr. Dragan Primorac, and his associates. The cardinal also thanked the city of Zagreb and Mayor Bandić.
“The basis for the establishment of this university is an attempt by the Church, in the fulfillment of its calling, to provide assistance within the Croatian system of higher education, which it considers to be of exceptional importance today … We are aware that the Church and gospel also have something to say to university life,” observed the cardinal, recalling that on June, 3, 2006, the decree Luce Vera Illuminata was proclaimed, thereby establishing the Croatian Catholic University.
Mentioning several important dates in creating the prerequisites for the operations of the university, the cardinal recalled that after the signing of the letter of intention on July 15, 2005, in connection with the contract on the exchange of properties between the Zagreb Archdiocese and the Government of the Republic of Croatia, an agreement was signed on June 6, 2006 for the exchange of the properties. The next important step in the collaboration between the Zagreb Archdiocese and the Government of the Republic of Croatia was the signing of the agreement on the co-financing of the university on November 2, 2007. On July 4 of this year, the Croatian Catholic University submitted an application for accreditation for the performance of university operations and the conducting of studies in psychology, sociology and history. The Ministry of Science, Education and Sports issued the requested accreditation on July 9 of this year.
The cardinal then expressed gratitude to the rector of the University of Zagreb, Dr. Aleksa Bjeliš, who during their frequent encounters has always shown interest and a desire for cooperation. “It is our desire that the Croatian Catholic University will be a place of encounter and cooperation with Catholic universities in Europe and the world. Therefore, we thank all those in other countries who have opened the door of cooperation. We invite Croatian scientists and university instructors to join in the building of this important institution with their knowledge and experience, and to promote and support it,” said Cardinal Bozanić.
“This year, we have worked intensively on the renovation of two buildings on this campus, in order to prepare premises for the initial operations of the university. In this renovation, the Church of the Zagreb Archdiocese has invested considerable assets, which in the final analysis is an investment in people, not in making a profit, and I deeply believe that this will be recognized by all Croatian lay faithful and people in various parts of the world who want to provide assistance to higher education in our Homeland,” said the cardinal. Noting that the Commission of the Croatian Catholic University has announced that the university would open in the academic year 2009/2010, the cardinal said that this would involve not only the programs for which accreditation has already been obtained but that work is in progress on several other programs. There will be particular emphasis on intensifying international cooperation. This university desires eventually to encompass all scholarly fields and disciplines.
Cardinal Bertone delivered an address in which he conveyed the greetings and blessing of Pope Benedict XVI, together with his congratulations that the academic operations of this Catholic university will soon commence. “I can say to you that the Pope, who is an expert regarding universities, has great hopes for the academic world, which he views with fatherly affection, and from which he expects courageous choices of Christian life as well as significant contributions to scientific research. Since I had the useful experience of teaching at a university for many years, I am aware of the importance of the service that can be provided by a Catholic university to the Church and society,” said Cardinal Bertone. He emphasized that the name of this institution, the Croatian Catholic University, immediately suggests its mission, to be a center of scientific research, illuminated by the Word of God and faithful to the magisterium of the Catholic Church, in which the culture of the Croatian nation will be opened to dialogue with other cultures. He also mentioned that a recent publication by the Congregation for Catholic Education, entitled Universitates et alia Instituta Studiorum Superiorum Ecclesiae Catholicae, states that the number of Catholic university institutions in the world totaled 1,861 in the year 2005. “In this context, the initiative to establish the Croatian Catholic University was received in Rome with great approval, particularly taking into account the expectations and needs that have arisen, especially in the cultural environment of the people, who until recently were under the authority of communist and atheistic ideologies. The Catholic university is an important part of the mission of the Church to inform and form responsible and mature persons, aware of their identities and evangelical mission, prepared to assume leading roles in various areas of the society. I am thinking here, naturally, not only about your country but also about Europe, to which Croatia has belonged for centuries both geographically and culturally, the building of which can make a great contribution, owing to the intellectual potential that it possesses and the religious legacy which is the historical and cultural heritage of the Croatian nation,” concluded Cardinal Bertone.