Zagreb (IKA) – “Thank you, dear Holy Father, for everything you have done for ‘the beloved people’ of your Croatia. Thank you, John Paul II, for your pastoral visits with which you blessed the land of Croatia three times,” said the archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, in his April 3 message on the occasion of the death of Pope John Paul II, which was distributed via electronic media.
“As believers, from the bottom of our souls we thank the Heavenly Father for giving us a great Pope, dear brother, beloved friend, caring father and powerful champion. We therefore pray for the Resurrected Lord to receive him in full heavenly communion. While we are overwhelmed with grief at the loss of his physical presence, we are comforted by Easter hope. We believe that he has not left us forever by departing from this world, that in him we have obtained a great intercessor with God,” stated Cardinal Bozanić, expressing gratitude to the Holy Father for the love of God and humankind that he tirelessly proclaimed and to which he bore authentic witness.
Thousands of the faithful, including many young persons, participated in a prayer vigil for Pope John Paul II at the Zagreb Cathedral on Sunday, April 3. In this cathedral, where the Holy Father prayed with us on two occasions, the vigil was led by Cardinal Bozanić together with the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Francisco Javier Lozano, Auxiliary Bishop Josip Mrzljak, Auxiliary Bishop Valentin Pozaić, canons of the Zagreb Cathedral Chapter and the Presbyteral Council of the Zagreb Church. The vigil included readings from the Holy Scriptures, excerpts from the Pope’s works, prayers and moments of silent meditation. In conclusion, the cardinal lit a candle from the Easter candle, and in a procession brought the candle to the statue of Our Lady outside the cathedral, placing it among the thousands of candles that the people of Zagreb had lit all day beside a portrait of the Pope.
On the occasion of the death of Pope John Paul II, the Government of the Republic of Croatia has proclaimed April 4 and 5, together with the day of his funeral, as days of mourning in Croatia.

Bishop Štambuk on the Occasion of the Death of the Holy Father
“Croats, the Pope loves you!” – “And we love you, John Paul II! Pray in eternity for the nation you loved so much and which has remained, with heart and soul, faithful and sincerely devoted to you, the Peter of our days.”
Hvar (IKA) – “Faith in love assembled us and we pray to the ‘Father of Eternal mercy’ who every year during the Easter celebration rekindles the faith of the holy nation,” said the bishop of Hvar, Brač and Vis, Msgr. Slobodan Štambuk, during the Mass he conducted at the Hvar Cathedral on April 3, the Sunday which John Paul II proclaimed as Divine Mercy Sunday. “Sadness mingles with pride, gratitude with faith. Gratitude to God for the life of a man who received the name of Karlo (Dear) at his baptism, who was dear, not only to the Christians whose father he was but a type of father to the world …
“The eyes of the whole world, as never before, are focused upon Rome and the Vatican. Death often draws people closer together but no death has ever brought the world closer together before. … He knew how to meet people. He wanted to be their brother, close to them in joys and sorrows. He spoke with ordinary, so-called little people, children but also with heads of state. He warned tyrants of the power of love, interpreted the principles of the Gospels, even to those who neither knew nor recognized them …
“The young Croatian state and all its inhabitants justifiably experience this death as the death of their Father, the Father of our country’s large family. Already on April 30, 1979, only six months after receiving the oars of Peter’s boat at the tomb of St. Peter in Rome, on the occasion of the 1100th anniversary of the fidelity of the Croatian nation to the throne of Peter, this Holy Father said: ‘My dear Croats! The Pope loves you. The Pope embraces and receives you. The Pope blesses you!’ This was repeated in various ways during a variety of encounters,” noted the bishop who, recalling his own meetings with the Holy Father, pointed out that for him they were sources of new enrichment, impetus and joy.
“’Croats, the Pope loves you!’ – And we love you, John Paul II! Pray in eternity for the nation you loved so much and which has remained, with heart and soul, faithful and sincerely devoted to you, the Peter of our days,” emphasized Bishop Štambuk.