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, April 8, as days of mourning in Croatia.