Zagreb, (IKA) — “For eleven years, I have attempted to serve the Church in Croatia with a feeling of responsibility and love. I have gathered immeasurable riches of human and Christian values with which your land abounds. I have enjoyed your exceptional and generous hospitality, and marveled at your gestures of love, solidarity, work and peace. I have sensed the living presence of Jesus Christ in your churches, in suffering brothers and sisters. I have lived with you, hoping always for a better future,” said the first apostolic nuncio in Croatia, Archbishop Giulio Einaudi, at the farewell Mass that he celebrated on the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, September 8, at the Zagreb cathedral. Archbishop Einaudi reminisced that he had arrived in Zagreb immediately after the Holy See recognized Croatia and that he thus was able to follow the rebirth of “this noble nation” from a close vantage poi!nt, first the trial of the crushing regime that did not respect human dignity and then the long war with much bloodshed that caused terrible suffering and destruction. Owing to Croatia’s many centuries of culture, rooted in the Christian faith, and its population that was strong and resilient in defending its convictions, Croatia was able to find the path to rebuilding a democratic society and orientation toward Europe, said Archbishop Einaudi, adding that a reason for great satisfaction is the fact that the Church in Croatia, led by zealous and wise pastors, has provided and continues to provide a contribution to the process of social renewal, stressing the important role of Christian values in the creation of a free and just society, particularly as a herald of reconciliation, justice and solidarity. The celebrant of the Mass also expressed the particular recognition by the Holy See for everything that Croatia has done from 1992 to today in generous efforts for th!e good of the Catholic community in the entire country and integration into the family of nations. At the conclusion of his mission, Apostolic Nuncio Einaudi delivered heartfelt greetings to all, families, parishes, dioceses, monastic communities, Church movements and societies, saying, “Your image shall remain in my memories. I carry memories of you in my heart.”
At the Mass, concelebrated by the Croatian bishops and numerous priests, the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb, reminisced about May 13, 1992, the day when the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, when Cardinal Franjo Kuharić expressed greetings to the apostolic nuncio in the Zagreb Cathedral. Noting that the international recognition of Croatia opened a new page in the history of the Croatian nation, Archbishop Bozanić said that Pope John Paul II had particularly confirmed this by the rapid appointment of an apostolic nuncio with headquarters in the capital city of Croatia. “In your esteemed person, we received the first nuncio appointed by the Pope on February 29, 1992 and therefore you, Most Reverend Archbishop Einaudi, enter our history in a special way and remain in our memories,!te said the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops to Nuncio Einaudi. “Arriving with rich experience from previous work under the harsh conditions of war-torn countries and Churches subjected to various pressures and injustices, you could well understand the difficulties of a nation exhausted by the crushing pressures of the communist regime, the consequences of war that you yourself felt in encounters with people, particularly displaced persons and refugees. With your authority and involvement, you helped many,” said Archbishop Bozanić on this occasion to Apostolic Nuncio Einaudi. Noting that the Catholic Church in Croatia always received firm support during Archbishop Einaudi’s mandate, Archbishop Bozanić said that the apostolic nuncio came everywhere as a herald of Pope John Paul II, conveying his blessings and encouraging Christian hope, always promoting peace!, forgiveness, justice and solidarity among people. “The significance of the activities of Nuncio Einaudi,” said Archbishop Bozanić, “is certainly also in the signing of four contracts between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia and the establishment of three new dioceses and a military ordinariate for Croatia.” The president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops also pointed out that Archbishop Einaudi, together with us, had welcomed the Pope during his three apostolic visits to Croatia, which provide us with lasting impetus for our Christian witness.

Archbishop Giulio Einaudi was appointed as the apostolic nuncio in Croatia on February 29, 1992, and formally presented his credentials to the President of the Republic of Croatia on May 11 of the same year. Archbishop Einaudi will be succeeded at the mission of the apostolic nuncio in our country by Archbishop Francisco Javier Lozano.