Zagreb, (IKA) – On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the death of Cardinal Franjo Šeper, on Friday, January 5, in the Zagreb cathedral there was a Requiem Mass conducted by the current prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal William Joseph Levada. Cardinal Levada conveyed a special message from Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the death of Cardinal Šeper, the former archbishop of Zagreb and prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from 1968 to 1981.

In words of greeting, the archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, mentioned that five years ago, on the 20th anniversary of the death of Cardinal Šeper, the Zagreb Archdiocese and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith prepared an international symposium in Zagreb and Rome on Cardinal Šeper, on which Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger conducted a Mass in this cathedral. ‘The Zagreb Church assumes the honorable obligation to deepen the great spiritual heritage that was left to it by its archbishop, later the prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Franjo Šeper of blessed memory,” said Cardinal Bozanić, and mentioned that during the second part of Cardinal Šeper’s mandate in the office of the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the current prefect of the Congregation, Cardinal Levada, served as a presbyter.

Cardinal Levada pointed out that his experience of six years of working with the late Cardinal Šeper of blessed memory, as a member of the Congregation, was excellent preparation for various services and positions that he was later called upon to assume. Speaking about the life of Cardinal Šeper, he also mentioned Šeper’s active participation in the preparations for the Second Vatican Council in the office of the Central Commission for Preparations and the Council Commission De doctrina fidei et morum, the conciliar years in which Archbishop Šeper became acquainted with both future Popes, Paul VI and John Paul II, the year 1965 when he was appointed cardinal, and in 1968 the prefect of the newly appointed congregation, also assuming the office of the president of the new International Theological Commission and the reorganized Pontifical Biblical Commission. He led the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for thirteen years, reminisced Cardinal Levada.

In the message that Pope Benedict XVI sent on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the death Cardinal Šeper, it was emphasized that Šeper’s pastoral work remains unforgettable, first as the coadjutor archbishop and then as the archbishop of the Zagreb Metropolitan Church, a position he inherited from the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, and as the president of the Conference of Bishops of Yugoslavia he worked tirelessly for the Croatian nation during the demanding and trying era of communist totalitarianism.

“His confident and sensible service in the leadership of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was of equal importance during three pontificates. The work that was achieved under his leadership is particularly noteworthy, and concerns the reorganization of this Dikasteria within the Church, pursuant to the needs of the Second Vatican Council. In the same way, his wise attitude, profound respect for persons he encountered and firm and clear orientation for the activities of the Congregation, Pontifical Biblical Commission and the International Theological Commission, for more positive and timely presentation of Catholic doctrine, are also noteworthy. He had a decisive role in numerous and significant documents of doctrinal and moral significance which, under his leadership, were published by the Congregation and the other two previously mentioned bodies,” stated the message from the Holy Father, adding that Cardinal Šeper had a living and fervent desire to bear witness to the faith and love of the truth, assisting Popes in their office and in leading the faithful.