Vatican, (IKA) – At the conclusion of the meeting of the Mixed Commission of Croatian and Serbian Experts on the Role of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, Prior to, During and After Word War II, the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, spoke to Radio Vatican about the purpose of this commission and its first meeting, as reported by the Press Office of the Archdiocese of Zagreb.
The meeting was open, cordial and high level, and it accomplished the required task for the initial session, said Cardinal Bozanić. He referred to the purpose of the commission initiated by the Holy Father owing to an intervention by the Serbian Orthodox Church in relation to the process of the canonization of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac. The purpose of the session, continued the Cardinal, is to study, become acquainted with, and read about the life and works of Blessed Alojzije, although the work of the commission does not enter into the canonization process, which is under the exclusive competence of the Holy See.
He pointed out that Blessed Alojzije does not need what the commission is doing but we do and, therefore, it is essential to examine who he was, what happened and what Blessed Stepinac actually did. We have heard much about him but there have been different narratives influenced by various ideologies, starting with communist ideology. The purpose of the commission is to go to the sources and come even closer to appreciating the greatness of Blessed Alojzije, explained the Archbishop of Zagreb.
In response to a journalist’s question whether he hopes that it will be possible to achieve certain changes in thinking, understanding and the relations between the Catholic Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church in subsequent sessions, the Cardinal said that often in these relations, only the difficulties and problems are discussed.
“Here the bishops, representatives of the Church of Christ, have found once again that we always understand that we have a lot in common. In this respect we are the first, as representatives of the Church, who want to seek the truth,” said the Cardinal, adding that representatives of the Catholic Church are not afraid of the truth and believe in what Jesus said: “The truth will set you free.” This is a common search by representatives of both Churches for the truth, and when the truth is emphasized and accepted, then proximity and community are stronger, concluded Cardinal Bozanić.
At the end of the interview, he noted that the next meeting will be held in Zagreb, the commission will meet five more times and the last session will be held in Rome.