Zagreb, (IKA) – On September 19, in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the beatification of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, the Archdiocesan Pastoral Institute of Zagreb conducted an international scientific symposium, Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac – Historical Context in an International Perspective.

Opening the symposium, Archbishop Cardinal Josip Bozanić of Zagreb pointed out that it was an opportunity to hear from distinguished professionals on the fruits of their investigations about Stepinac in a context that is broader than the Croatian context. The Blessed Alojzije often mentioned that history would vindicate him and prove his innocence. His fidelity to the truth and reliance on God made him a model to the faithful, but also a person without whom nearly a hundred years of the Church in Croatia and Europe cannot be well understood, said Cardinal Bozanić. The Church considers it very important for the truth to be investigated, demonstrated, published and heard. Stepinac is not only a precious heritage to Croatia but also belongs to the beauty of European civilization and the power of the humanity of all the people of the world, regardless of race, nation, religion or ideology, said Cardinal Bozanić.

The first presentation, “Dr. Alojzije Stepinac, Archbishop of Zagreb under the Magnifying Glass of Historians and Diplomats (1941– 1945),” was delivered by a historian from New York, Dr. Esther Gitman. She briefly spoke about the historical framework of the period which started in 1933, i.e. with the emergence of fascism, and then presented information she had obtained from her research as a Fulbright scholar during the year 2002. The subjects of the interviews she conducted for the purpose of her investigation included many Jews who had been saved. In many of these stories, the name Alojzije Stepinac appeared almost regularly. Dr. Gitman spoke about the first documents by Dr. Ivo Politeo, in which there are references to the homilies in which Stepinac condemned persecutions, and thus his sermons were spread among the partisans as propaganda against the Ustashe. Furthermore, she pointed out that the arrest and sentencing of Archbishop Stepinac provoked reactions and articles in the press throughout the world, such as those reporting how Archbishop Stepinac had risked his own life to save Jews after the occupation. Stepinac succeeded in having the order rescinded that all Jews had to wear yellow badges. He condemned the racist wartime laws and hid Jews under his own roof, as did many priests. However, owing to the indictment against him by Yugoslavia, Stepinac’s name became synonymous with the crimes of the Ustashe. This attitude was spread by the Yugoslav communist authorities, as well as some historians. However, there were also historians who respected his courageous behavior. In order to assess Stepinac’s role during that period correctly, it is important to clarify what was required of him in his role of archbishop. The function of the Catholic leader was to assure spiritual leadership, regardless of who was in power. Therefore, Archbishop Stepinac had to have some relationship with those in authority. However, he did much more. He loudly condemned violations of human rights. He also had to follow the instructions received from the Vatican and had watch his behavior in order to save human lives.

Dr. Ronald J. Rychlak, a professor of law and history at the University of Mississippi, presented a lecture entitled “Cardinal Stepinac, Pope Pius XII and the Roman Catholic Church during the Second World War.” He pointed out that Stepinac’s words and acts prior to, during and after the war demonstrate that he was neither a nationalist nor a racist. He asked priests to help persecuted Jews, initiated activities to help Jewish refugees and opposed persecution in his pastoral letters. He backed up his words with his deeds. He hid many in his home and monasteries, as did a number of priests. During the war, Pius XII also made it possible for many to hide in the Vatican. He noted that Stepinac did not support Pavelić from the very beginning. The Vatican, i.e. Pope Pius XII, also did not support Pavelić. As an example, Dr. Rychlak pointed out that Pavelič wanted the Pope to receive him in a private audience but the answer was clear: he could only attend a general audience.

A professor of history from the University of Trnava, Dr. Emilia Hrabovec, in a lecture entitled “The Holy See, Eastern Europe and the Beginnings of the Cold War,” presented the political events from the year 1933 to the postwar period in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Yugoslavia within a broad context. She specifically discussed the period immediately after World War II and the positions of individual socialist countries toward the Catholic Church.

Dr. Roberto de Mattei, a historian from Rome, in a lecture entitled “The Church and Communism in the Teachings of the Blessed Alojzije Cardinal Stepinac,” pointed out that in order to understand the case of Stepinac, it is necessary to consider it together with what occurred in Hungary, where proceedings were conducted in 1949 against another Catholic bishop, Cardinal József Mindszenty, who was another hero of the anticommunist resistance. Both Stepinac and Mindszenty believed that communism was unnatural and that it would fall by itself. Cardinal Stepinac predicted that the structures of real communism would be destroyed. The position of the Blessed Stepinac is a symbol of resistance to communism, which was more or less followed by many bishops who attempted to obey the directives of the Holy See and safeguard the living faith among the faithful. These certainly include Cardinal Franjo Kuharić as well as Bishops Franić, Pavletić, Čekada, Mržić, Kos and many others, said Dr. de Mattei at the end of his lecture.

A lecture entitled “Stepinac and Tito: On Religious Repression in Yugoslavia,” was presented by Dr. Katrin Boeckh of the Institute of Eastern European Studies in Regensburg. She placed her presentation within the political context, i.e. in the pan-Soviet hemisphere which Stalin built after the Second World War in Eastern Europe. She pointed out that the roots of Titoism are to be found in Stalinism. During Tito’s time in Moscow, he became acquainted with Stalin’s system from the inside and survived it. Later, he applied methods using his experience from the Soviet Union in Yugoslavia, particularly following his break with Stalin and adoption of Bolshevism. Stepinac, from the other side, recognized the clear danger not only to the Church as an institution but also to the faithful. Speaking about the rigged trial against Stepinac, Dr. Boeckh pointed out that the entire Catholic Church was on the defendant’s bench with him. Stepinac understood that his trial would be the first in a series of trials against Catholic representatives in Eastern Europe. Therefore, it was clear to him that his behavior would be a model for the behavior of other Catholic representatives. His dignity in the courtroom, prison and under house arrest was in keeping with this burden. He made no concessions whatsoever to the regime. He remained clear, upright and courageous in his Christian convictions. Therefore, his courage in the face of danger shines as a model for the entire century, said Dr. Boeckh in conclusion.

The first French ambassador to the Republic of Croatia, Georges-Marie Chenu, delivered a presentation entitled “The Image of Cardinal Stepinac in France.” He explained that this image is not good: in the best case it is unclear and in the worst case it is negative. Cardinal Stepinac is still a controversial figure in France. Not much about the trial was said in France at the time. One of the reasons is that France was dealing with its own collaborators. Furthermore, a book published in 1955 on the wartime horrors in Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina, which cited Croats and Catholics as the main culprits for these crimes, contributed to the distorted image. The lecturer presented several concrete examples that could contribute to clarification and, thereby, improve the image not only of Stepinac but also of the Croatian nation. Thus, an association has been established for the study of the Balkans, which aspires to provide information and promote the exchange of experiences among historians, sociologists and researchers. One of these initiatives is a Mass that will be celebrated in the Paris cathedral. On this occasion, the innocence and virtues of Archbishop Stepinac will be proclaimed, so that the faithful and all persons of good will in France will become acquainted with an exceptional person, kindred nation and European state. The ideal to which we must aspire is for all people, all of humanity, to be able to turn the pages of the life of the beatus without damaging or distorting them, said Georges-Marie Chenu at the end of his presentation.

The final presentation at the international symposium, entitled “The Blessed Alojzije Stepinac and Totalitarianism,” was by Dr. Robin Harris, a former advisor to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain. He emphasized that the life of Archbishop Stepinac reminds Croats and all of us that it is necessary to confront the enormous power of coercive evil. The Blessed Alojzije respected the law of God, transmitted Christian doctrine, and lived and died in full fidelity to the Catholic Church and chair of Peter. He never had any doubt whatsoever about the nature of evil and the need to fight it. Dr. Harris spoke about the characteristics of the Ustasha regime and communism. In connection with the postwar period, he noted that religious persecution was far more ferocious than the outside world understood. He recalled a letter from a bishop dated September 1945, which cited the number of 263 murdered priests. To this were added 169 in prisons and camps, 89 who disappeared together with 10 seminarians, 3 lay brothers and 4 murdered nuns. The total number of approximately 500 continued to increase, since the persecutions continued and more information reached the light of day. Recent investigations place the number at approximately 600. This was a brutal campaign against the Catholic Church, to which little in history can be compared, for which no one has been sentenced, and for which no one has apologized. Naturally, the blood of martyrs is fertile, as always. Like all totalitarian systems, this one could not permit anything outside of its control, so it also supported a parallel association of priests. However, Stepinac used his moral authority and from his captivity sent priests letters of encouragement, owing to which the activities of this association were marginalized in Croatia. At the end of the presentation, Dr. Harris noted that for Archbishop Stepinac, the 1,300 years of Catholicism in Croatia was not a mere historical fact. It was a national calling, mission and inspiration. Stepinac spoke and wrote about this throughout his life.

Following the presentations, a discussion was held in which, among other things, it was emphasized that Stepinac does not have to be defended before the world but should be presented to the world as a source of good. The symposium was closed by the president of the Commission for the Celebration, Auxiliary Bishop Ivan Šaško of Zagreb.

In addition to Cardinal Bozanić, the international symposium was attended by the auxiliary bishops of Zagreb, Vlado Košić, Valentin Pozaić and Ivan Šaško; the bishop of Banja Luka, Franjo Komarica; the bishop of Srijem, Đuro Gašparović; representatives of other religious communities in the Republic of Croatia, professors of the Catholic Faculty of Theology, many religious and lay faithful.