At the session, among other things, the bishops discussed the Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences held recently in Zagreb, an appendix to the Ratio Studiorum of a document on the formation of candidates for the priesthood, Catholic Social Week, and also a proposal to initiate the canonization process for priests and religious killed during the era of the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century.

More than ever, today's world need witnesses to the truth of the gospel, said Archbishop Mamberti.

They agreed that the relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Holy See based upon cooperation agreements are generally excellent.

"From my heart, I wish Croatia continued progress in both the material and spiritual areas," said the Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States.

Deputy Speaker Šeks said that Croatia, as a majority Catholic country, and the Holy See nurture exceptional bilateral relations that have been crowned by three visits from Pope John Paul II to Croatia, and that the Croatian people fervently hope that Pope Benedict XVI will visit soon.

The Prime Minister repeated her invitation to Pope Benedict XVI to visit Croatia and expressed gratitude for the support that Croatia has received from the Holy See since its independence.

This international interdisciplinary project investigating the positions and values of Europeans, i.e., their attitudes toward marriage and the family, work and leisure, religion and morality, politics and numerous other topics, was discussed by its leader for Croatia, Dr. Josip Baloban, and the methodologist Dr. Ivan Rimac.