Christmas message from Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb

Zagreb, December 16, 1997 (IKA) — On Tuesday, December 16, Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb, president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, issued a Christmas message via his Public Relations Office to the faithful in Croatia and the entire Croatian public.
In this Christmas message, the archbishop of Zagreb explained what God#!s coming to mankind in the form of a Child means to the inhabitant#!s of today#!s Croatia. “It can be said that Christ#!s path toward man in Croatia is today marked by a responsible solidarity with every citizen of our country, with the proclamation of the Gospel#!s poverty, as one of the significant conditions for solidarity and reconciliation,” emphasized the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops. He continued, “The sudden changes in the political and economic systems have made it possible for some individuals to become rapidly rich while increasing numbers citizens are becoming progressively impoverished. The structures are sinful that have been made possible by laws and regulations, for which the primary goal was not the general good of the individual and community.” Archbishop Bozanić , pointing out that Christmas is a holy day for mankind, explained the current task of the Church: The Church, illuminated by the mystery of Christmas, appeals for solidarity with young people who are completing their educations and do not see any opportunity for employment, with workers who are under pressure of losing their jobs and being left to the mercies of new masters, with mothers and fathers whose earnings are insufficient to support their families, with retirees, refugees, displaced persons and returnees. Our society, that underwent transformation under conditions when attention was centered on wartime events, during this postwar period is urgently called upon to re-examine the harsh conditions in which a large part of our population has found itself, especially in our cities.” Christmas challenges the believer with the evangelic poverty that makes a person independent of material riches and teaches him how to share with the needy, according to the pastor of the Church of Zagreb. In this Christmas message, Archbishop Bozanić mentioned an especially important question in postwar Croatia, i.e. the question of reconciliation and coexistence. “Promotion of reconciliation is mentioned in connection with the relations among faiths and religions, nations and ethnic communities. Here I wish to emphasize the importance of the new relations among the groups and communities in our Croatian society. Dialogue, tolerance, respect for democratic procedures, moderating radicalized social relations, attempts concerning broad cooperation, placing the general good above narrow party, group and local interests — these are all new names for reconciliation in today#!s Croatia,” concluded Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and strength from the Bethlehem Child in daily activity for the general good.