Gospić, July 25, 2000 (IKA) — Today, July 25, Msgr. Mile Bogović became the first bishop of the newly established Gospić-Senj Diocese, according to a papal bull that was displayed and read on this occasion. Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb, president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, presented Bishop Bogović with the historical pastoral staff of the Krbava Diocese, escorted him to the episcopal throne and then installed him. The celebration of the Eucharist continued with 22 archbishops and bishops as concelebrants, including the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Giulio Einaudi, and approximately 180 priests. Among those attending Mass in Kolakovac Park in Gospić, to which a procession from the new cathedral passed through the city streets, were government dignitaries including Dr. Katica Ivanišević, president of the Upper House of Parliament; Dr. Goran Granić, deputy prime minister and president of the Government Commission for Relations with Religious Communities, and other cultural and public figures, together with thousands of the faithful. In words of greeting, Msgr. Ivan Šporčić, diocesan administer of the Rijeka Archdiocese, recalled the efforts made by the recently deceased Archbishop Anton Tamarut to establish the new diocese, also noting that retired Archbishop Josip Pavlišić had also taken particular pastoral care of this region, filling the post of parish priest in Ogulin. In the sermon, Bishop Bogović, paraphrased the words of Aeneas: “Tantae molis erat Romanam condere gentem — How difficult it was to build the Roman nation,” with “how difficult it was ‘condere dioecesim Gospiciensem-seniensem’ — to create the Gospić-Senj Diocese.” “Today it is acknowledged to exist in all respects. Now my associates and I will pause slightly and then apply ourselves to the tasks of the Church institution, that has become a reality. We reflect with pride upon the entire burden we bore, because we are convinced that it had a purpose. We thank all who in any way made it possible for this day to come to pass,” said Bishop Bogović. He also referred to the history of the present Gospić-Senj Diocese, noting that there had been a number of diocesan jurisdictions in its history. “The Church among the Croats, led by its bishops, decided that today ‘it is necessary to go to Lika’ with its strongest institution — with a diocese. Much here is still not finished and organized: the people are impoverished and few in number, the economic conditions are poor, homes and church buildings have been demolished, relations between Serbs and Croats are troubled, and the question of refugee Croats from Bosnia remains unresolved,” said Bishop Bogović, expressing the hope that “the government authorities will understand that ‘it is necessary for them to go to Lika’ with even stronger institutions than those of today, and in no way permit this territory to become marginal in some new administrative division.” The bishop also quoted from Isaiah: “Releasing those bound unjustly, … sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless, clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own, … then your light shall break forth like the dawn.” Bishop Bogović particularly emphasized that the hungry and homeless are not only the concern of the government institutions but of the church institutions. Bishop Bogović also expressed his hope for reduced tensions between the Croats and Serbs in these territories: “Let us give one another a sincere friendly sign that in the future we shall attempt to live in peace in our common homeland of Croatia … Instead of trying to blame the other side, we shall do better if in the spirit of the prophet of our times, John Paul II, we ask whether we ourselves have fed and aroused enmity through our own behavior,” said Bishop Bogović. He made particular reference to the difficulties faced by the Croatian Catholics who were expelled from their homes in Bosnia and are presently living in the territory of the Gospić-Senj Diocese, without knowing how much longer they will be able to remain. At the end of his sermon, the bishop said that with all his strength he would “attempt for the so-called conciliar structure to be realized in the new diocese, i.e. for councils to have an important role at the diocesan level: presbyteral, lay and pastoral; so that at the level of the parish the parish pastoral council will not only exist but become active, in the spirit of the council.”
At the conclusion of the celebration of the Mass, there was an address by the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Giulio Einaudi, who conveyed greetings and an apostolic blessing from the Holy Father, John Paul II. Archbishop Bozanić spoke and emphasized that now “the Croatian Conference of Bishops has 15 diocesan units, 14 dioceses and one military ordinariate … Thus, the Catholic Church in Croatia in a particular way is providing a great impetus and contribution to the lives of the faithful and citizens of Lika and Kordun, the Senj coastal region and the Ogulin region.” There was also an address by the president of the Government Commission for Relations with Religious Communities, Dr. Goran Granić. Dr. Granić pointed out that this celebration “is a confirmation of the new conditions under which the Church in Croatia lives and operates.” He also expressed his belief that the new Religious Communities Act would improve the quality and religious freedom of all the religious communities in Croatia. The county executive of Lika-Senj, Ante Frković, spoke on behalf of all the county executives of the counties with territory within the new Gospić-Senj Diocese — Karlovac, Lika-Senj and Zadar-Knin. The mayor of Gospić, Milan Kolić, also delivered an address.
At the conclusion of the Mass, the first bishop of Gospić-Senj, Dr. Mile Bogović, thanked all the participants and all who had contributed to the establishment of the new diocese and helped organize the celebration.