Vatican, June 11, 2003 (IKA) – Pope John Paul II spoke about his third apostolic trip to Croatia today during his general audience at the Vatican. Thanking God for this hundredth trip, the Pope said: “I returned to the noble Croatian land to confirm my brethren in their faith; I wished to convey to all a message of peace and reconciliation and had the joy of elevating Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified Petkovic (Marija Propetog Isusa Petkovic) to the honor of the altar. The Pope especially thanked the Croatian bishops, President of the Republic, other civil and military authorities, the Rijeka Archdiocese and its seminary who provided hospitality to the Pope and his entourage.

The Pope spoke about the “first stage” of his visit, Dubrovnik, “proud of its history and its tradition of liberty and justice.” It was during the Pope’s visit to Dubrovnik that he beatified Mary of Jesus Crucified Petkovic, “a great daughter of the Church in the land of Croatia. . . . In the light of this admirable figure, I delivered a special message to Croatian women, whom I urged to offer the Church and society their spiritual and moral contribution; I asked consecrated women to be eloquent signs of the presence of God’s love among people in a special way,” said the Pope, recounting his trip to Dubrovnik.

The next stage of the Pope’s trip on the following day was in Osijek, where, as he said, he had “the pleasure of presiding at the solemn conclusion of the Second Diocesan Synod and commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Zagreb Ecclesiastic Province. On this occasion, I reflected upon holiness as the vocation of every Christian: this is one of the central teachings of the Second Vatican Council. I particularly invited the lay faithful to appreciate fully the grace of baptism and confirmation. Only those inspired by robust faith and generous love can be apostles of reconciliation and the reconstruction of morality, where the wounds of the sad and difficult past still remain open,” said the Pope, recalling the Mass he celebrated in Osijek. He also referred to his brief visit to Djakovo and the local cathedral.

The Pope then spoke of his visit to Rijeka, on the feat of Pentecost, where he sought to affirm the “primary social importance of the institution of the family, urging special consideration and concrete policies favoring the establishment, development and stability of families.” The Pope then recalled his visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Trsat, where he “joined the pilgrims who venerate Our Lady there.”

In conclusion, the Pope spoke about the last stage of his trip, Zadar, “a city rich in history,” on the feast of Our Lady, Mother of the Church. “This Marian holy day, that prolongs the solemnity of Pentecost, is as if we were once again reliving the atmosphere of the Upper Room. Then as today, Mary continues to be present in our Ecclesiastic community: a presence humble and discreet, inspiring us to prayer and life in the Spirit; a contemplative presence, who reminds the pastors and the faithful of the primary role of the interior life, of listening and assimilating the words of God, an indispensable condition for convincing and effective evangelical proclamation.”

“Dear brothers and sisters! During this trip, I was able to see how much Christianity had contributed to the artistic, cultural and especially spiritual and moral development of Croatia and its people. On this solid base, the dear Croatian nation, at the beginning of the third millennium, will be able to continue to build its cohesion and stability, for its harmonious integration into the community of the peoples of Europe. May God continue to bless and protect Croatia! Croatia will always have a privileged place in my affections and in my prayers!” said the Pope, concluding his remarks on his trip to Croatia during today’s general audience at the Vatican