Zagreb, (IKA) – The visit by Pope Benedict XVI was truly a great event for the Church in Croatia, the entire Croatian nation and the Croatian state, said the Archbishop of Zagreb, Josip Cardinal Bozanić on Monday, June 6, following the apostolic visit by the Holy Father to Croatia. “What I felt as the Pope passed through the streets of our city and what is coming now to me is gratitude, full of positive impressions,” said the Cardinal. “The Pope brought sun and light. When the Pope stepped upon Croatian soil, the sun shone. When he left, after everything that had been beautiful, rain fell as if to water that which the Pope had planted so that it would bear fruit,” said the Cardinal, observing that the moment the Pope began to enter the aircraft, the sun came out again. In the Pope’s farewell to the Cardinal, he said: “May Divine sunshine remain in Croatia.”
The Cardinal said that the Pope left us messages that we need to interpret and implement in our lives. “The Pope has left us many signs, gestures of his closeness and love for us. I was particularly touched when the Pope wanted to stop the Popemobile and took a child in his arms. When he returned the child to the father, not only were the father and mother crying but also many people nearby. They were moved by this gesture that did not occur only once but a dozen times in two days. Thus, the Pope showed us that in some way he is close to us, that he respects us. The Pope came to support us in what is good, which he clearly emphasized when he said: “You can and you are called to bear witness in your Croatian homeland to the gospel, not only in Croatia but also in the world,” said the Cardinal.
Commenting on the individual programs of the visit, the Cardinal said that it is difficult to say where he saw the greatest enthusiasm, but it should certainly be pointed out that the young people made a special impression. The Pope was delighted that the young people filled the entire main square, the streets approaching the square and the square in front of the cathedral. During the vigil, they prayed, kneeled and for a time remained so quiet that at these moments it was only possible to hear the songs of birds. This left a profound imprint on Pope’s entire visit. For that moment, our main square in Zagreb became a great cathedral. This is the first time it happened, said the Cardinal, observing that such moments will remain in the memories of the people of Zagreb and Croatia.
In response to a journalist’s comment that the Pope seemed slightly tired and somber when he arrived but by the afternoon was smiling in the Croatian National Theater and especially in the evening, Cardinal Bozanić added that after the two-day visit, the Pope looked cheerful, practically rested after so much work. He said: “I also thank you because I came to confirm you in faith but in the Church it is so that we confirm each other. And I have received much from this nation that received me with open hearts.” In the spirit of the motto of the Pope’s visit, “Together in Christ,” the Cardinal said that unity is something that is profoundly ecclesial because the Church is unity, in the first place unity with God and the mutual community of those who believe in Christ. “We must convey this unity that we have experienced, in the first place to our families, the wider community, parishes, the Church and at the national level. There are too many divisions. We must become closer to each other and seek that which we share in common, that which serves the common good,” said the Archbishop of Zagreb.