Vatican, March 14, 1999 (IKA) – With a joint celebration of the Mass in a private chapel on Saturday, March 13, led by Pope John Paul II, the members of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, headed by Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb, concluded the official portion of their visit “ad limina apostolorum” to the Vatican. In addressing the Holy Father, Archbishop Bozanić greeted him on behalf of the eighteen bishops, retired Archbishop Cardinal Franjo Kuharić and six retired bishops, as well as all the Croatian priests, religious and laity.
Regarding events since the last visit “ad limina apostolorum” by the Croatian bishops in the autumn of 1992, Archbishop Bozanić referred to the two pastoral visits by Pope John Paul II to Croatia, emphasizing: “You have given the Catholic Church in Croatia two new dioceses, Požega and Varaždin; established a military ordinariate for the Catholic members of the armed services and police, and established a legal framework for the operations of the Catholic Church in our country with four contracts.” Confirming the filial devotion of the Croatian bishops to the Holy Father, the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops stated that the most important tasks before the Catholic Church on the threshold of the third millennium are new evangelization, the education of young people, the formation of Catholic laity, pastoral activity among families, promotion of the religious calling, tireless promotion of ecumenicism, and the introduction of the principles of the social doctrine of the Church into public life, in order to contribute to the elevation of social morality. These and other questions were brought up by the Croatian bishops during their “ad limina” visit in individual conversations with the Holy Father, Vatican congregations and other institutions. Archbishop Bozanić thanked the Holy Father for his words of motivation and encouragement, and asked him to bless the Church pastors and faithful laity in Croatia. In a message to the Croatian bishops, the Pope also referred to his pastoral visits to Croatia, emphasizing that today#!s meeting in a certain way concludes his apostolic travel as a “pilgrim of the gospel.” He particularly greeted the bishops of the recently established dioceses and retired Archbishop Cardinal Franjo Kuharić of Zagreb, thanking him for everything he had done for the Church in Croatia and “for what he continues to do in order to present the great figure of his predecessor, the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, to new generations.” Assigning them the task of promoting evangelization, as their first and urgent pastoral duty, the Pope also emphasized the need for strengthening the Church community and seeking new ways to proclaim the gospel within the framework of preparations for the Great Jubilee Year 2000. Due to new evangelization, it is necessary to consolidate all forces so that at the end of this century and millennium it will be possible to “repair” all the moral ruin induced by various ideologies. “In order to confront and find a positive resolution to the difficulties encountered by the society and Church in Croatia, with roots extending back through history, the spirit of love, enduring patience and foresight are needed. This is the only way that the young sapling of freedom and democracy will be able to grow into a solid and strong tree,” said the Pope.
The task of the Church pastors is to teach the faithful to be “the light of the earth and the salt of society,” so in order to form the physiognomy of their Homeland, “participating in various public duties, performing them as true believers in Christ and promoting the general good together with justice and spiritual solidarity.” Speaking about the relation between the Church and the society, which was discussed at the Second Vatican Council, the Pope reiterated that the Church and political associations are mutually independent, each in its own sphere, but both are in the service of the very same person. Therefore, healthy and productive cooperation between the Church and state for the good of all citizens is necessary. At the end of the Pope#!s message to the Croatian bishops and the entire Croatian nation, he commended them to the intercession of Our Lady and bestowed his apostolic blessing upon all.