Zagreb, (IKA) – On Sunday, January 20, a book by the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Francisco-Javier Lozano, Hrvatska u mom srcu [Croatia in My Heart], was formally presented in Zagreb.
This work covers the period of Nuncio Lozano’s nearly 4.5-year mandate in Croatia and was published by the Croatian Conference of Bishops and Glas Koncila. The presentation was attended by the archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Bishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo and Srijem, the majority of the Croatian archbishops and bishops, many general superiors of religious orders and members of the diplomatic corps.
At the beginning of the presentation, the general secretary of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Msgr. Vjekoslav Huzjak, mentioned that the CCB had issued a similar volume at the conclusion of the mandate of the first apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Giulio Einaudi, and was doing the same in this instance as a small gesture of gratitude from the Croatian Conference of Bishops to Msgr. Lozano for his self-abnegating service to the Church, nation and the entire Croatian society. The title of the book speaks for itself, said Msgr. Huzjak. Dr. Danijel Miščin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Croatia spoke about the rich diplomatic tradition of the Holy See as well Msgr. Lozano’s specific role in cultivating relations between Croatia and the Vatican. Fr. Ljudevit Maračić, the co-editor of the book, spoke about its content, emphasizing that the author had evidently chosen a title that expressed his affection for the country in which he had served for fifty months as the highest official representative of the Holy See. This was confirmed by the nuncio’s use of the Croatian language, not only in the title but also in nearly all his public and official appearances during his mandate. Furthermore, Fr. Maračić emphasized that the book contains a large number of selected speeches, discussions, homilies, presentations and greetings that were written and delivered during the period from October 2003, when Nuncio Francisco-Javier Lozano officially assumed his office in the Republic of Croatia, through January 20, 2008, the conclusion of his public appearances in this capacity. The work includes 176 texts, divided into eight sections, in addition to a forward by Cardinal Bozanić, an introduction by the president of the CCB, Msgr. Marin Srakić, and Msgr. Lozano’s farewell to the ecclesial, cultural, political and diplomatic public in the Spanish and Croatian languages.
At the conclusion of the presentation, Nucnio Lozano addressed those assembled. He thanked everyone who had contributed to the publication of his book, which brought back fond memories of Croatian cities and villages he had visited, and the people with whom he had shared friendship, common interests and, most of all, faith. “This book presents what I did and said for four and a half beautiful years spent among you, dear friends. It is a great thing. Therefore, I must simply say – hvala