Osijek/Đakovo, May 16, 2003 (IKA) — The master of Papal liturgical celebrations, Bishop Piero Marini, and a member of the Office for Liturgical Ceremonies of the Supreme Pontiff, Msgr. Enrico Viganó, accompanied by the coordinator of the Croatian Conference of Bishops for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Third Apostolic Visit by Pope John Paul II to Croatia, Dr. Ivan Šaško, visited Osijek on May 14 and Đakovo on May 15. Their hosts in Đakovo were the president of the Commission for the Preparations for the Pope’s Visit to the Đakovo and Srijem Diocese, Bishop Đuro Hranić, the head of the Liturgical Commission, Ivan Ćurić, and the chancellor-cannon Luka Strgar. The goal of the visit to Đakovo and Srijem was to prepare the celebration of the Eucharist, which will be the main event of the Holy Father’s visit to that part of Croatia.
“Seeing the Đakovo Cathedral from outside and inside, it is evident that this is a typical late 19th century church but with a grandeur and beauty in all the elements that distinguish that type of architecture. There is a striking altar with a baldachin, and a dignified place for the proclamation of the Word of God. Today we lack such a feeling for ceremony and sometimes when we build churches we do not pay sufficient attention to creating the sense of grandeur that previously characterized places of liturgical celebration,” noted Msgr. Marini after touring the Đakovo Cathedral.
In response to a journalist’s question concerning the dynamics of work on the place where the liturgical celebration will be conducted in Osijek, Msgr. Marini responded: “We visited the place where the celebration will be conducted and saw how the work is progressing. That which was presented shows that the floor is being made according to the requirements for liturgical celebrations with all the elements that we need. It is clear that the place where the celebration will occur has its own requirements and characteristics regarding all the ceremonies on this large and open space. This is a place where a very large number of people will gather, which poses a difficulty in the liturgical sense. There are no problems whatsoever regarding the work,” said Msgr. Marini.
Regarding the visit by the Holy Father to the Đakovo Cathedral, Msgr. Marini said that this visit will be a private one, i.e. not open to the public, to all the faithful, because only a small number of persons will be present. With this act, the Pope is expressing his respect to the church that is the mother of all the churches of the Đakovo and Srijem Diocese. The Pope will pray to the patron of the cathedral, St. Peter, and then pray in silence, thereby emphasizing his personal relation toward this church that is the heart of the diocese.
“We all know that the Pope is in fragile health. This is an ill man whom all of us can support with prayer. His visit shows his great desire to visit Croatia again. He is coming to the Đakovo and Srijem Diocese to conclude the diocese synod, and to express his support to the people who suffered so greatly during the war. The Pope’s visit is symbolic not only for the civil society but his words are primarily directed toward the Church. In the context of the synod, such speech is even more clear and eloquent,” said Msgr. Marini.
Journalists were interested in Msgr. Marini’s overall assessment of the spiritual preparation throughout Croatia for the arrival of the Holy Father. “First of all, I am very gratified with what I have seen. I cannot speak about the general renewal and interior spiritual preparation. My job concerns the visible exterior part. I know that this is a Church that lives its faith, that is in communion with the Universal Church, and closely tied to Rome and life in this communion. To the extent that I am acquainted with the Church in Croatia, I can say that the preparation is good,” stated the master of Papal liturgical ceremonies.