*Published below is the full text of the Pope’s speech.

In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti.

Pax vobis!

Praised be Jesus and Mary!

Dear Croatian pilgrims,

It is with great joy that I greet you in St. Peter’s Square, where you have gathered for your national pilgrimage during the Jubilee Year. Your large and prayerful presence is an eloquent sign of the vitality of the faith of your people, who throughout the centuries have remained steadfast in communion with the Church and faithful to the Successor of the Apostle Peter.

It is a source of profound consolation to see that the roots of your faith have not remained confined to the past, but continue to bear fruit even today, thanks to the witness of your families, your parish communities and your associations. The tradition inherited from your forebears is a precious treasure that you carefully preserve, and you are called to renew it continually, always remaining open to recognizing the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this fidelity, lived out in the concrete circumstances of everyday life. I know well that many of you live in different parts of the world, far from your homeland, because of work, studies or other needs; yet wherever you may be, you remain connected to your Christian roots and bear witness to a people who love Christ and his Church. Such consistency of life is a Gospel word more eloquent than many speeches.

I urge you always to keep your gaze fixed on Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who guides and accompanies you, and to let yourselves be led by Him with trust and docility. Do not forget that faith grows and is strengthened when it is shared. For this reason, I invite you to transmit with joy to your children and the new generations the Christian values that have shaped your long history and your culture. In this way, you will continue to be a leaven of peace, goodness, and hope in a world torn by violence and wars—something you, too, know from your own history.

May the Lord bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom you invoke as Advocata fidelissima Croatiae, protect you beneath her mantle and accompany you on your daily journey. To you who are present here, to your families, to all your loved ones, and to the entire Croatian people, I impart from my heart the Apostolic Blessing, a sign of the Pope’s closeness and love for each one of you.

Oremus: Pater Noster…

Blessing