Zagreb, (IKA) – We must not sell or surrender ourselves but must free ourselves from the abject mentality that is being introduced among our people, said Archbishop Josip Cardinal Bozanić on May 30 in an interview for Croatian Radio.

Archbishop Bozanić said that the forthcoming visit by Pope Benedict XVI to Croatia is an event that will bring blessings to the Church and Croatian nation. This Pope does not travel much; in the six years of his pontificate, this is only his nineteenth trip outside of Italy. Cardinal Bozanić emphasized that there are many invitations on the Pope’s desk but, nevertheless, the Pope decided to come to Croatia.
“The Pope is not coming to judge us or render a verdict. He is coming because he wants to be with us, pray with us, strengthen us in that which we are and praise us for what we do well. He wants to address us in a pastoral and fraternal word way!” said Cardinal Bozanić.

Each of the previous pontifical visits to our country has been in a different atmosphere. The present is full of social and economic challenges. Speaking about current challenges, Cardinal Bozanić said that Croatian national pride has been undermined and this amidst various pressures, not only from the outside but also to a certain extent from the inside, where our specific values are underappreciated. The nation must know the value of its uniqueness and what it is, said the Cardinal, adding: “We must not lose our specificity; we should not sell ourselves lightly and under no circumstances surrender ourselves! On the other hand, we must free ourselves from the practically abject mentality that is being introduced among our people.” In this sense, the Cardinal emphasized that we need not accept messages from Europe without any criteria.
The Cardinal noted that the foreign media write about Croatia as a beautiful country, about people who are hospitable and friendly, while our local media presents our country in a negative light. After the Pope’s visit, we shall have a lot of work, said the Cardinal, particularly in applying the Pope’s messages in the pastoral ministry of the Church.