Zagreb, November 4, 1999 (IKA) — Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb spoke on Wednesday evening, November 3, at the first public forum in a series commemorating the late Bishop Srečko Badurina of Šibenik, organized by the monastery of St. Francis Xavier in Zagreb. The archbishop’s topic was “The Croatian Conference of Bishops and Europe as spheres of the late Bishop Srečko Badurina’s activity.” In this presentation, the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops discussed the late Bishop Badurina from six aspects. Speaking of Bishop Badurina as an example of a conciliar bishop, Archbishop Bozanić emphasized that although he showed concern for his own diocese, the Church in Croatia and the Church among the Croatian people, he also felt a powerful need to communicate and collaborate with the Church of Europe. This was particularly evident in his leadership of the Justitia et Pax Commission of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, that the late bishop of Šibenik formed, directed and also coordinated with similar Church institutions in Europe. Under his leadership (from 1988 to 1993), this commission issued several significant acts. During the period of major changes in Croatian society, Bishop Badurina’s activity was directed toward “epochal social changes, democracy, the role of elections in democratic processes, the creation of a state, the relation between ethics and politics, questions of war and peace, human rights” and other topics, stated Archbishop Bozanić. He added that in the period from 1989 to 1991, six acts were issued: two proclamations, two statements, one letter and one memorandum. The commission also prepared a number of documents for the Croatian Conference of Bishops. “When the commission was founded, Bishop Badurina was engaged in the education of the faithful for the promotion and establishment of democratic relations in society and a democratic system of government in our country. Later, in the wake of the aggression against Croatia, his attention was more directed to defending the rights of the nation to independence and a state of its own.” In presenting Bishop Badurina’s work in the area of ecumenicism, Archbishop Bozanić noted that he was “a prophet in the true sense of the word: in words, gestures, testimonies and suffering” and that he made concrete achievements in this area which are particularly evident in European Church circles. Although Bishop Badurina’s domestic ecumenical undertakings encountered criticism and a lack of understanding, he did not lose confidence but remained “a realist” who “thoroughly studied and understood our historical and current conditions but nevertheless was open to dialogue to a degree that some found perplexing. However, when he sensed that anyone from any side wanted to take advantage of this, he reacted with clarity and courage.” Archbishop Bozanić also spoke of Bishop Badurina in his role as the first vice president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops and as a member of the Permanent Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, stressing his tirelessness, particularly during the war years. The late bishop of Šibenik represented the Church in the Commission for Relations between the Church and State. He was an intellectual who “was not satisfied with merely completing formal tasks but approached them studiously,” resulting in the signing of the four contracts between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia. In conclusion, Archbishop Bozanić presented Bishop Badurina as a synodal father, who was late to the First Synod for Europe in 1991 because of the war raging in Croatia, particularly in Šibenik. At this synod, he distinguished himself as a lecturer and participant, speaking extensively about the suffering of the Church and people in Croatia. As a result of the Bishop Badurina’s participation, “in the final synod document, only Croatia is mentioned among all the countries of Europe.” Thus, the European activity of the Church was evident even before the formal international recognition of the Republic of Croatia.