Zagreb, October 11, 1998 (IKA) — A Mass of thanksgiving for the successful completion of the pastoral visit by Pope John Paul II to Croatia and the beatification of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac was celebrated today, October 11, in the Zagreb Cathedral before a large assembly of the faithful by Cardinal Franjo Kuharić in concelebration with Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb and apostolic nuncio Archbishop Giulio Einaudi. Other concelebrants were Military Ordinary Juraj Jezerinac; Archbishop Stepinac#!s secretary from 1941-1945, Msgr. Stjepan Lacković; members of the College of Canons and the provincials of religious orders. The Mass was celebrated precisely on the anniversary of the date in 1946 when the rigged communist court unjustly sentenced the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac. According to a proclamation issued by Archbishop Bozanić, today all the churches in the Zagreb Archdioceses at all Masses thanked God for the gift of the new Beatus. Cardinal Kuharić commented in his sermon about the recently completed pastoral visit by the Holy Father to Croatia, in the light of the proclamation of the beatification of the new Beatus, Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac. Speaking about Cardinal Stepinac#!s martyr#!s life and death, Cardinal Kuharić referred to Stepinac#!s testimony before the rigged communist court, pointing out that the Blessed Alojzije#!s unjust sentencing was “also the sentencing of the Catholic Church . . . His purity and clear conscience, as well as his holy life and martyrdom were confirmed by the Holy Father through the beatification of the Servant of God,” emphasized Cardinal Kuharić. He also spoke about the magnificent Mass celebrated in Žnjan (Split) on Sunday, October 4, and cited the Pope#!s words: “#!The Christians of Croatia are today called to give a new face to their country, above all by committing themselves to the renewal in society of the ethical and moral values undermined by past totalitarianism and the recent violence of war. This is a task which calls for the expenditure of much energy and a firm and persevering will. It is an urgent task, for without values there can be no true freedom or true democracy.#!” Cardinal Kuharić concluded his sermon with the following: “He came to visit us the second time because this is what he wanted. He came with the gift of the beatification of Archbishop Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, to raise him in the heart of Croatia to the altars, to offer him to us as a model for life and reconfirm the words received from the apostle Paul: #!I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on, a merited crown awaits me, on that Day the Lord, just judge that he is, will award it to me — and not only to me but to all who have looked for his appearing with eager longing!#! We are grateful to the Holy Father for what he has done and continues to do for us.”
At a formal reception after the Mass, the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Josip Bozanić, expressed his thanks to all the participants in the preparations for the Pope#!s visit to Croatia — the representatives and all the members of the Government and Church commissions. He then presented them with medallions and a special edition of the Vatican daily newspaper Osservatore Romano on the visit by the Holy Father to Croatia. The medallions were provided by the Holy See on the occasion of the Pope#!s visit to Croatia. Archbishop Bozanić also presented the parish priest and administrator of Marija Bistrica, Msgr. Lovro Cindori, with a gold plated rosary — a gift from the Holy Father to the national Shrine of Our Lady of Marija Bistrica.
Following this, the president of the Government Commission for the Preparations for the Visit by the Holy Father, Dr. Jure Radić, expressed his gratitude for the reception and words of thanks, and among other things noted the response of the people, which would be difficult to experience anywhere else outside of Croatia. Furthermore, as a believer he thanked Cardinal Franjo Kuharić for stressing the greatness and significance of Cardinal Stepinac during a period when this was dangerous. Cardinal Franjo Kuharić responded that the most worthy was the Blessed Stepinac, who made his sacrifice to God, which had borne fruit “even sooner than we had hoped.” He expressed the conviction that the Blessed One would keep the promise he made before his death: that he would pray for the Church in Croatia and for his nation, and thus it is necessary to be grateful to this intercession and prayer for the freedom that we have received. “When freedom occurred, the elevation of Cardinal Stepinac to the honor of the altars also occurred,” added Cardinal Kuharić.
As Cardinal Kuharić pointed out, the process for canonization began on February 13, 1960, when the body of the Blessed Cardinal Stepinac was brought to the Zagreb Cathedral. Even then the people were heard to exclaim: “Saint and martyr!” It was precisely this belief by the people that Stepinac was a saint and martyr that served as the basis for beginning the process of beatification. Cardinal Kuharić also thanked Msgr. Juraj Batelja, who conducted the process as the postulator. He was the initiator of all the events and had the courage to defend the truth and speak with all those who in any way had participated in the “sorrowful trial,”
The people of God provided further confirmation for the beatification of Cardinal Stepinac, emphasized Cardinal Kuharić, through their continuous pilgrimages to Stepinac#!s grave in the Zagreb Cathedral. “Stepinac testified for the Church, and now the Church testifies for him.” The concluding speech was delivered by Msgr. Juraj Batelja, who mentioned that in recent days over 20,000 of the faithful had come to the Zagreb Cathedral in order to pray at the grave of the new Beatus.