Archbishop Gallagher presided over the Mass in the square in front of Zagreb Cathedral, concelebrating with the Archbishop and Metropolitan of Zagreb, Dražen Kutleša; Archbishop Emeritus of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić; the Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Giorgio Lingua; as well as numerous bishops, religious provincials, assembled priests and faithful.

At the beginning of the Mass, Archbishop Kutleša addressed the faithful, announcing that the cause for the beatification and canonization of the Servant of God, Cardinal Franjo Kuharić, could be opened, according to consultation with the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.

In his homily, the Vatican Secretary brought to mind the history of the image of Mary, Our Lady of the Stone Gate, which remained intact after a fire that had engulfed Zagreb in the 18th century.  „This image, preserved through the mercy of our heavenly Father, awakened, kindled and nourished hope in the suffering and disoriented citizens, alongside their sense of wonder. In today’s world, there is no shortage of scenes of tragic destruction. Many of them are caused by natural phenomena, but many, unfortunately, are also caused by that human senselessness which Pope Francis has for some time now described as a ‘third world war fought piecemeal,’ which is turning into a ‘true and full-scale global conflict.’ This is why it is good for us to look together upon this image; to kneel before it, confident that a mother never abandons her children, least of all in a moment of trial.”

“Today’s liturgy presents to us the encounter between Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, the encounter of two women who unexpectedly received the great gift of motherhood: one at a time when she had not yet considered it, and the other when she no longer expected it. Mary welcomed with joy, though not without fear, the surprising arrival of a child in her virginal womb, according to the will of the One who can do all things. This unexpected motherhood, which the humble girl from Nazareth welcomed with joy, completely changed her plans,” Archbishop Gallagher said.

He added that in some “cultures, children are not always regarded as a gift and are considered a burden or an obstacle to self-fulfilment,” the Archbishop said.

“Nevertheless, for us believers, who look upon the mystery of life and recognize in it the gift of the Creator, the defense and promotion of life, in all circumstances, belong to the urgent commitment of faith and love. We must not forget that, as Pope Francis said, the degree of progress of a civilization is measured precisely by its ability to safeguard life, especially in its most fragile stages,” Archbishop Gallagher emphasized.

Mary and Elizabeth are perhaps an invitation to see God’s work already present in the world, “even when it is still in an embryonic and nascent state“.

“Whenever we are shaken by a tragedy; whenever human violence flares up, solidarity also grows. Let us not look only at the bombs that fall and only at the destruction they cause. Just as He preserved the image of Our Lady of the Stone Gate, so the Lord always saves what is good; He saves the little flock, which sometimes becomes a great multitude, like an army of those who risk their lives in order to alleviate the suffering of victims or prevent new tragedies“, said Msgr. Gallagher.

“May Our Lady of the Stone Gate grant us that patience as we pray for the grace to see God’s hidden work in today’s world as well. Just as She revealed herself as a sign of hope during a tragedy, may She also make us witnesses of the Resurrection, despite everything, so that through our lives we may give glory to God and, from this moment onward, in a world enveloped in so much darkness, become beacons and builders of peace,” Archbishop Gallagher concluded, ending with the prayer that Pope John Paul II addressed to the Patroness thirty years ago, on the occasion of his first visit to Croatia.

Zagreb Auxiliary Bishop Mijo Gorski translated Archbishop Gallagher’s homily in Croatian.

Earlier that day, the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States gave the Lectio magistralis on the occasion of Pope’s Day and the Day of the Croatian Catholic University, as well as the grand opening of the University Library. His visit also included meeting with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić-Radman.