Osijek, (IKA) – At the beginning of the Holy Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II at the Cepin Sports Airport in Osijek, Bishop Marin Srakic of Djakovo and Srijem addressed the Holy Father.

After quoting from the Holy Liturgy, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” Bishop Srakic said: “At this festive and joyous moment, when all of us here and all who are following this historic and holy event on radio and television are filled with happiness and gratitude for the love and attention that you, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, constantly bestow, I exclaim to you: Welcome!” Bishop Srakic then welcomed the Pope on behalf of the assembled archbishops, bishops, religious, priests and nuns in formation and all the lay faithful, officials of the municipal, state and military authorities, the local residents, on his own behalf and on behalf of the Croatian-Slavonian Ecclesiastical Province of Zagreb, that is commemorating the 150th anniversary of its establishment this year. He also recalled the history of the many martyrs of this diocese, whose martyrdom bore witness to their faith in God, the Church and the Apostolic See.

Bishop Srakic emphasized that this day with the Holy Father would be “inscribed in golden letters in our national and religious history,” noting that the Pope was visiting “a diocese that endured senseless aggression ten years ago, during which innocents, cities and villages suffered grievously, where churches were demolished and plundered, as were family homes, businesses, schools and hospitals; a diocese in which many are still waiting for missing loved ones to return. It is sufficient merely to mention the city of Vukovar, the symbol of our suffering. Nonetheless, we do not wish to be slaves to the past but a people with a view to the future, which we want to build together with the faithful of other Christian Churches and religious communities, with all people of good will. May this Eucharist be an incentive to all for “cleansing our memories,” together with forgiveness and reconciliation in truth and respect for others.”

Bishop Srakic also mentioned the conclusion of the Second Diocesan Synod of Djakovo and Srijem, which was held in order to enable the local Church to respond to the signs of the times, the expectations and demands of the religious community and all the people, adding that during the past five years of synod activity, they had embarked on overall renewal.

The bishop of Djakovo and Srijem also recalled the Pope’s great efforts to end the recent Homeland War and secure a just peace, taking the opportunity to thank the Pope for his encouragement in faith and his messages of hope, peace, dialogue, reconciliation and forgiveness.

“With today’s Eucharist, we want to thank the Lord for the gift of baptism and for communion with the Apostolic See, which your predecessor Pope John VIII formally confirmed and blessed in his letter to the Croatian ruler Branimir, on precisely this date, June 7, 879. We are equally grateful for all the good that the Lord bestows upon the Church and world today through you, Holy Father. May this also be a prayer for the present and future of the Church in Croatian regions, for God’s blessing and help in the building of a civil society based on lasting values, the furthering of the general good, the dignity of the person and family, so that in the homes of its citizens there should always be enough clothing and bread, earned through the honorable work of our hands. May this be a humble petition for our families, for the fathers and mothers, for children and young people, for grandfathers and grandmothers, for the elderly and infirm, for all who suffer in their bodies and souls, for all who await a sign of hope and encouragement. . . . Once again, welcome Holy Father. We wish you a pleasant stay among us,” said Bishop Srakic in the conclusion of his address to the Holy Father.