Zagreb, September 26, 1998 (IKA) — At the Solemn Mass to be held in Marija Bistrica on Saturday, October 3, when Pope John Paul II will proclaim the beatification of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, besides the eucharistic gifts of bread and wine, the Pope will be presented with two symbolic gifts.
The first gift is a decorative silver evangelistarium cover with sacral motifs from the treasury of the Zagreb Cathedral and the second is a gift of money for charity, in remembrance that Alojzije Stepinac established the Zagreb branch of Caritas. The significance of both gifts is contained in the proclaimed gospel and Stepinac#!s testimony that flows into the daily Christian life of every believer.
The gifts are being given in the name of all the archdioceses and dioceses of the Croatian Conference of Bishops and will be presented by selected representatives of the bishops.
All other gifts to the Holy Father can be delivered to the Archdiocesan Commission for Preparations for the Visit by Pope John Paul II at Kaptol 1 in Zagreb, and will subsequently be presented to the Pope at the apostolic nunciature. Dr. Ivan Šaško, head of the Zagreb Subcommission for the Liturgy, recommends that a gift should be accompanied by the name of the donor, a description of the gift and an explanation of its significance.