Zagreb, (IKA) – On the occasion of the completion of the mandate of Archbishop Francisco-Javier Lozano as the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, a Holy Mass was held in the Zagreb cathedral on January 20, concelebrated by nearly all the Croatian archbishops and bishops, led by Archbishop Josip Cardinal Bozanić of Zagreb; the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Bishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo and Srijem; provincials and canons of the Zagreb Cathedral Chapter.
Prior to the beginning of the Mass, the faithful were addressed by Cardinal Josip Bozanić, who emphasized that the occasion of this assembly in Stepinac’s cathedral was “to thank the triune God for the gift of service and community and friendship that we built and experienced with the apostolic nuncio for over four years.” Cardinal Bozanić recalled the words that the apostolic nuncio had delivered in the same cathedral on October 25, 2003: “‘At the beginning of my mission in the country of Croatia, I wish to confirm my readiness and availability for service to the Croatian nation and all the inhabitants of this land.’ Today, at the beginning of this farewell Mass, we gratefully bear witness to this readiness and availability of the archbishop and apostolic nuncio, Msgr. Lozano. In various situations, our apostolic nuncio has demonstrated and confirmed this before the state authorities, diplomatic corps, at Church celebrations, meetings and encounters. Thank you, dear Apostolic Nuncio, for your human, Christian and ecclesial investment in our Church and our Croatian homeland. Your Excellency is the representative of the Holy Father in our homeland. As such, we eagerly welcomed you over four years ago, and all this time have sincerely loved you and devotedly respected you. In your esteemed person, we see the service of the apostolic representative. Therefore, at this Mass we wish to pray for you and for the office that the Roman Pontiff has entrusted to you,” said Cardinal Bozanić. He also invited those assembled to pray for the Holy Father: “May this Holy Mass be a sign of our faithful solidarity with Benedict XVI.”
During the homily, Nuncio Lozano emphasized that he would like to be able to say that his ecclesial and diplomatic service humbly followed the steps of John the Baptist, i.e. “to herald Jesus Christ, proclaim that he is the Savior of the world and the Lord of history,” said the nuncio. He stressed that it was a great honor for him to be the apostolic nuncio in Croatia and thanked the Lord that he had been authorized to serve a nation that had remained faithful to its Christian roots throughout its history. He noted that the fervent calling to holiness is the greatest yearning of Christ’s faithful: “The Church in Croatia must always aspire to holiness. This, dear brothers and sisters, is your greatest gift, which I wish to convey to the Holy Father at the conclusion of my mission in Croatia,” said Nuncio Lozano. Furthermore, he mentioned that Pope Benedict XVI had recently addressed a very important topic for the Church in Croatia, education in faith. Msgr. Lozano pointed out that during his four and a half years of service in Croatia, he had become acquainted with many positive things in this Church but it was also necessary to confront the difficulties of the times. History teaches us that every period has its own challenges in the areas of religion, culture, society and politics, as well as its privileges. Croatia deserves our love and engagement for the general good. The charm of its natural and historical riches, Christian roots, beauty of tradition, the sensibility and intellectual creativity of its people merit the respect of all, and all should remember that this is a land of profound Christian roots, which cultivates a tender love for the Virgin Mary, pointed out Msgr. Lozano. He mentioned that he will never forget encounters with the faithful at celebrations of the Eucharist throughout Croatia, especially at Marian shrines and on the feasts of Our Lady. “As a Spaniard, I have cultivated a filial piety toward our Lady, and have encountered the same piety in Croatia,” said Msgr. Lozano. He further emphasized that the Croatian Christian nation knows that Our Lady has interceded for this land through its millennial history, knows that she has led the Church in the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and in bearing witness to love for all, especially the poor and the abandoned. It knows that Our Lady accompanies its pastors in their demanding service of the truth, justice, brotherhood, reconciliation and forgiveness. “Therefore, in the name of the community of the Church in Croatia, I want to thank the Most Blessed Virgin and address her with the same sentiments with which the pastors of this Church have been imbued, such as the Blessed Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, a martyr to the faith, truth and love,” said Msgr. Lozano.
He also mentioned that the purpose of his service in Croatia was to arouse hope. After the tragic consequences of the war, the whole Church attempted to pour hope into persons afflicted by tragedy. This is not a matter of forgetting the past but of looking toward the future with hearts open to forgiveness and sentiments of Christian reconciliation. The three significant and unforgettable apostolic visits by Pope John Paul II of blessed memory had this goal, said the nuncio. At the end of his sermon, Nuncio Lozano thanked Cardinal Josip Bozanić for his affectionate and effective collegiality, and Archbishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo and Srijem, the newly elected president of the CCB, for the solidarity and support that he always found in him and the faithful of Slavonia. He thanked all the archbishops and bishops in Croatia for the magnanimous pastoral care with which they undertake the building of the Church of God and the proclamation of the gospel of salvation, frequently accompanied by great sacrifices. He also thanked the priests and religious for the great love which they exhibit day after day in performing their offices, as witnesses to the call to holiness and in the service of others, especially the poor and the abandoned. Nuncio Lozano also expressed his gratitude to the authorities and his greatest thanks to the Catholic faithful of Croatia, for their love and understanding. “With the publication of the book Hrvatska u mom srcu [Croatia in My Heart], which your bishops desired to give me as a precious parting gift, I express my respects to you, Catholics in Croatia, and leave you my final testimony to the love I bear for this noble nation and this Church,” concluded Nuncio Lozano.
At the end of the Mass, Cardinal Bozanić pointed out that this was a Mass of farewell for the apostolic nuncio. He emphasized that the nunciature in Croatia was established in 1992, owing to the fact that we have our own state. He also pointed out that the entire Catholic Church in Croatia was represented by the archbishops and bishops present.
Addressing the nuncio, Cardinal Bozanić said: “You have entitled your book Croatia in My Heart. I gladly bear witness to you here that the Catholic Church in Croatia and the Croatian faithful will keep you in our hearts. We thank you greatly for your service in Croatia.”