Zagreb, September 30, 2003 (IKA) — Following the announcement by Pope John Paul II that he will appoint Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb a member of the College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church at the consistory to be held on October 21, the newly named cardinal issued a statement to IKA in which he emphasized the following: “At this special moment, I express particular gratitude to the Holy Father for the attentiveness and confidence that he has demonstrated in my service and person by deciding to induct me into the College of Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church at the consistory to be held on October 21 of this year. In this decision by the Holy Father, I recognize once again a great sign of his love and devotion to the Croatian nation and the Church among the Croats, which we experienced with such immediacy during his recent apostolic visit to Croatia. I consider this appointment to be a gift that John Paul II through me is giving to all the bishops in Croatia, so that from the hand of our Holy Father I receive it in communion with my brothers in the Episcopate.
I also comprehend this decision by John Paul II as particular recognition of the holy heritage of the Zagreb Archdiocese. With gratitude and the greatest respect, I think at this moment of my predecessors: the late Cardinals Franjo Kuharić and Franjo Šeper of blessed memory, and the Blessed Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac. Their lives and the testimonies of their love of God, the Church and their Croatian nation remain lasting models and sources of inspiration for my service in the Church and my Croatian nation from which I have sprung.
My appointment as cardinal entails new responsibility. Therefore, as of now I place my episcopal service even more in the hands of Divine Providence and under the heavenly protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, and my blessed predecessors on the Zagreb Cathedra: Augustin Kažotić and Alojzije Stepinac.
I commend myself to the prayers of my brothers in the episcopate and priesthood, monks, nuns and all of Christ’s faithful, with the desire to complete my service in the manner that God expects from me so that with my life and work I may justify the confidence that the Holy Father has shown in me.”