Osijek, (IKA) – Pope John Paul II began his homily at the Mass held today, June 7, at the Cepin Sports Airport in Osijek, attended by an estimated 220,000 persons, with an emphasis upon our call to holiness. “The Bishop of Rome has come among you today in order to remind you, in the name of the Lord, that you are called to holiness in every season of life: in the spring of youth, in the summer of maturity, then in the autumn and winter of old age, and at last at the hour of death and even beyond death, in the final purification preordained by God’s merciful love.”

The Pope explained that he wanted to recall this fundamental truth as he celebrated the solemn conclusion of the Second Synod of the Diocese of Djakovo and Srijem, during which the participants devoted almost five years of prayer and reflection to the theme: “You are the Christ, for us and for all men and women.” The Pope expressed the hope that the Synod would produce “abundant fruits for a renewal of Christian commitment in this land, which is so firmly linked to the See of Peter.” The Holy Father noted that this day, June 7, is the anniversary of the letter sent in 879 by Pope John VIII to Prince Branimir and Bishop Theodosius, a “significant date” in Croatian history.

Thanking Bishop Marin Srakic of Djakovo and Srijem for his words of welcome at the opening of the liturgical celebration, the Pope greeted the bishops and all the faithful of the Ecclesiastical Province of Zagreb, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary, as well as the many pilgrims who had come with their pastors from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro. The Holy Father particularly mentioned the late Cardinal Franjo Seper of Osijek, recalling that as “a faithful servant of the Church, he was my valued co-worker as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the beginning of my Pontificate.”
The Pope extended greetings to “brothers and sisters who share with us faith in Jesus, the Son of God and the one Savior of the world.” In particular, the Holy Father greeted Metropolitan Jovan and the other Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, asking them to convey fraternal greetings to His Beatitude Patriarch Pavle in the love of Christ. The Pope also greeted “our brothers and sisters of the Communities born of the Reformation,” members of the Jewish Community, the followers of Islam as well as the civil and military authorities, whom the Pope thanked for their commitment to the preparations for this pastoral visit.

The Pope expressed thanks to God “for the clearer awareness which, in the years following the Second Vatican Council, the lay faithful – men and women alike – have gained the baptismal dignity that is theirs.” The Pope declared that at the beginning of the third millennium, God is calling believers, and “the laity in particular,” to “a renewed missionary outreach.” Mission “is not something added on to the Christian vocation” but indeed, “the Christian vocation is by its very nature a vocation to the apostolate,” said the Pope.
“Dear brothers and sisters, the Church in Slavonia and Srijem has need of you! After the trying times of the war, which has left the people of this region with deep wounds not yet completely healed, a commitment to reconciliation, solidarity and social justice calls for courage on the part of individuals inspired by faith, open to brotherly love and concerned for defending the dignity of the human person made in the image of God,” emphasized the Holy Father. He also called the lay faithful to assume generously their own share of responsibility for the life of the ecclesiastical communities to which they belong, particularly calling attention to their important role in the areas of liturgy and catechesis, and in the promotion of missionary and charitable initiatives of various kinds. “No baptized person can remain idle!”
With particular affection, the Pope addressed the numerous field workers of Slavonian plain, which he had admired on his flight to Osijek: “Dear brothers and sisters, I know that your life is a hard one and that the yield of the earth’s fruits does not at times match the hard work which is demanded of you. I also know that farm work has its own serious difficulties: it has lost a part of its value and young people were already choosing urban life even before the last war, which left many villages with scarcely any inhabitants.” The Pope urged them not to lose confidence and to bear in mind that their manual work – which eloquently recalls the Biblical duty entrusted to man of “subduing” the earth and “having dominion” over the visible world means that they are daily “co-operators” of God the Creator.
“Know that the Pope and the Church are close to you and, with great esteem for the importance and dignity of your daily toil, they pray that agriculture and field workers, both men and women, will receive due recognition within the overall development of the community,” said the Pope.

The Holy Father then cited the words of the Apostle Paul, that there is “‘one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all,’” and proclaimed: “It is he, God the Father, who calls all of us to holiness and to mission. By experiencing fully the newness of Easter, Christians can transform the world and build the civilization of truth and love.”
The Holy Father commended all to Mary, “whom you greatly venerate at the shrines of Aljmas and Vocin. May she be your teacher and obtain for you the spirit of contemplation which was hers in Nazareth, the courageous strength which she showed at Calvary and the missionary openness to the Spirit which, together with the original community, she received at Pentecost. May Mary bring all of you to Jesus!”.