Varaždin (IKA) – “The priests and faithful of the Varaždin Diocese are particularly grateful to the Holy Father because on July 5, 1997, he established the Varaždin Diocese, which thus entered into the history and list of the dioceses of the world,” stated the bishop of Varaždin, Marko Culej. “He traveled continents and preached the Joyful News as Christ’s pilgrim and angel of peace,” noted the bishop, who also spoke about the Pope’s exceptional relationship with Croats, particularly “at the moments when it was the hardest for us and when we had few open friends in the world.”
“He always had an open heart for us and showed a special affinity for us. He addressed us in our language, not only in Croatia but in Rome but in other countries where immigrant Croats awaited and greeted him during his pastoral visits. He made his first pastoral visit to us in 1994, when we were suffering the wounds of war. He wanted to demonstrate his close concern and encourage us. It was a joy for him to make others joyful. I remember that after the largest Mass in the history of the Croatian nation, at which over a million of the faithful assembled at the Zagreb Hippodrome, he came to the archbishop’s residence, placed his hand on Cardinal Franjo Kuharić’s hand, and asked him: ‘Are you satisfied?’ He later visited our homeland two more times, always coming with a warm heart and the gifts of new beati,” recalled the bishop of Varaždin.
“As we mourn the passing of John Paul II, we are grateful to him for what he did during his pontificate for humankind, for the Church and for our Croatian nation. We thank God that we had him, that we lived with him and encountered him. The impact of his faith, goodness and courage will be present among us even after his death,” stated Bishop Culej.