Pastoral letter by the croatian bishops regarding immediate spiritual preparations for the forthcoming visit to Croatia by the Pope

Zagreb, August 14, 1998 (IKA) A press conference on the occasion of the
publication of the Pastoral Letter from the Croatian Bishops on the Feast
of the Assumption 1998 and the immediate spiritual preparations for the
second apostolic visit by the Holy Father to Croatia was held today at the
Secretariat of the Croatian Conference of Bishops. The speakers at the
press conference were Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb, president of the
Croatian Conference of Bishops, and Bishop Antun Škvorčević of Požega,
general secretary of the Croatian Conference of Bishops. The press
conference was conducted by Dr. Ilija Živković, T.O.R., head of the Press
Office of the Croatian Conference of Bishops. “As announced at the 16th
Plenary Session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, June 16 to 18, the
immediate, intensive period of spiritual preparation for the Pope#!s
arrival in Croatia begins tomorrow on the Feast of the Assumption of Our
Lady,” noted Dr. Živković in introductory remarks, adding that the
decision t o issue a pastoral letter had been made at that session.
Bishop Škvorčević presented a summary of the Pastoral Letter. Speaking
about the spiritual preparations for the Papal visit, Bishop Škvorčević
pointed out that in the central position “stands the figure of the Blessed
Servant of God Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac … With this letter, the
Croatian bishops wish to emphasize the qualities of the Servant of God
that make him worthy for elevation to the altar of the Blessed in the
Catholic Church, that have powerful significance and messages for the
present in the Church and general society of our homeland,” stated Bishop
Škvorčević at the beginning of his presentation. “Like a crimson strand,
the concept threading through centuries of profound spiritual unity and
community among the members of the Catholic Church of the Croatian nation
is personified by two martyrs: St. Domnius (sv. Dujam) of early Christian
Solin, the ancient patron saint of Split, and Alojzije Stepinac of Zagreb
from the present century, symbolically linking these cities that the Holy
Father will visit in order to affirm us as a Church and nation in the same
community,” continued Bishop Škvorčević. He added that this community has
been particularly invigorated by the connection of t he Croatian nation
with the Apostolic See. The Pastoral Letter, reported Bishop Škvorčević,
is structurally in two parts. It outlines Cardinal Stepinac#!s position on
heroic faith in God and his tireless intercession for what he achieved in
relation to t he social and ecclesiastical circumstances. Bishop
Škvorčević pointed out that the Pastoral Letter, modelled after Stepinac#!s
tireless efforts for the person and religious freedom, specifically
emphasizes the need for promoting ecumenicism in these territories,
undertakings to date in this direction and respect for the legally
expressed will of the majority of the citizens.
In response to a journalist#!s question on how to avoid focusing on
merely external, material preparations for the Pope#!s arrival, to which a
particular contribution will be made by the nature of the reporting in the
mass media, Bishop Škvorčević replied that intense spiritual preparations
are to begin on tomorrow#!s holy day but there have already been a series
of publications, including a recent encyclical entitled “To the Church
Among the Croats” containing statements by the Pope during his visit to
Cro atia in 1994. Bishop Škvorčević also stated that it has been proposed
for this great gathering of the faithful to be organized in accordance
with the bishops#! Pastoral Letter, focusing upon the figure of the Servant
of God Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac.
In response to the same question, Archbishop Bozanić pointed out
that the Church is attempting to follow this path to the extent possible
under the circumstances. “I profoundly hope that the Holy Father by his
message will show us the direction forward, toward the Third Millennium,
as he showed us in 1994. It is only a question of our readiness, whether
we will be prepared to accept all of the Pope#!s challenges,” said
Archbishop Bozanić.