Split, (IKA) – Archbishop Marin Barišić of Split-Makarska stated that the canonization of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac has not been called into question, regardless of the objections voiced by the Serbian Orthodox Church, whose delegation recently visited Pope Francis. In response to a journalist’s question following the presentation of a new book by Pope Francis, The Name of God Is Mercy, on January 20 at the Archdiocesan Ordinariate in Split, the archbishop said that Pope Francis had proposed the formation of a joint commission composed of representatives of the Catholic Church in Croatia and the Serbian Orthodox Church in order to consider the role of Cardinal Stepinac. As reported by HINA, Msgr. Barišić said: “I should compare this with cases when the Pope appoints a cardinal and then, owing to certain circumstances, does not publicly reveal his name but appoints him in pectore and, when circumstances permit, declares his appointment. The Pope is doing something similar here. The cardinal is a saint, the Pope is keeping his canonization in pectore and intends to declare it to everyone loudly and clearly when certain problems, controversial for some, are resolved. ”
In connection with objections from the Serbian Orthodox Church concerning the role of Cardinal Stepinac, Archbishop Barišić said that no man is perfect. “I agree with the remonstrance that Stepinac did not do everything. Who can say that he has done everything in his life? This can only be said by the One, who on the cross uttered ‘It is finished.’ Every other person is limited and sinful.”
Archbishop Barišić cautioned that in connection with Cardinal Stepinac, it is necessary to be reasonable and fair, not reducing the issue to politics, but to remain at the evangelical, human and spiritual level. Speaking about the recent meeting of the Serbian Orthodox Church delegation with Pope Francis, he said that on this occasion it is likely that the representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church also presented some names for the mixed commission to discuss the role of Cardinal Stepinac during the period in which he lived. Msgr. Barišić pointed out that he was pleased that Pope Francis is open and broadminded. Concerning the Pope’s meeting with the delegation from the Serbian Orthodox Church, Msgr. Barišić said that “a way of mercy and sensitivity to the questions and needs of others is to want to hear what the problem is and what the problem is for them. … I believe that it can be a gain for everyone if the bridge is re-established because we need this bridge, we do not need walls, but in the present situation I should like for us, the bishops in the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, to be more like clerics and less like politicians, lest we reduce faith and the gospel to politics,” added Archbishop Barišić.
He explained how it is necessary to build a bridge that will afford a place to truth and justice, adding that in this case, the bridge that will be built between the Catholic Church in Croatia and the Serbian Orthodox Church would be stable and lasting. The Pope’s meeting with the delegation from the Serbian Orthodox Church will contribute to greater candor in the meetings between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church in Croatia. He recalled that the last meeting between the Catholic Church in Croatia and the Serbian Orthodox Church took place in 2002 in Osijek, and that in 2003 the Serbian Orthodox Church was supposed to be the host but the meeting was not held. “I should have preferred that we had met more often on the terrain and then the meeting between the delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Holy Father would have had greater significance and efficacy,” said Archbishop Barišić. He added that he fears that “it is not good to avoid meetings on the terrain” but he hopes that the meeting between the representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Holy Father, as well as last year’s visit by a delegation from the Serbian Orthodox Church to Split, will “yield fruits.” “The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has begun and I believe it will contribute to the maturation to those of us in the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church,” concluded Archbishop Barišić.