Zagreb, December 21, 2002 (IKA) — The question of corruption is one of the key questions and we believe that our society in general, including those who bear responsibility, fails to confront this problem and sin, noted the archbishop of Zagreb, Josip Bozanić, at a pre-Christmas press conference held on Friday, December 20, at the Secretariat of the Croatian Conference of Bishops in Zagreb.
In response to the question whether solidarity is the response to poverty in our society, the archbishop concluded that we shall have as much as we have done. He noted that we expect too much from others, particularly those on the outside, or that we shall achieve something with a kind of acrobatics, which is an illusion. Asked to comment on what he meant in his Christmas message when he stated that peace in society can be achieved with a great measure of solidarity, what the archbishop considers to be priorities in assistance to solidarity and what the Church can do under the current circumstances, the archbishop said that perhaps too much is sought and expected from the Church in this area because it is within the Church’s authority to proclaim principles, while each person must find applications within the areas of his or her responsibility. Solidarity, according to the archbishop, is one of the fundamental tasks of the society in the general sense, but also in individual cases, and some of our laws actually do not protect this general social good. Asked whether he thinks that the authorities are trying to redefine some facts in connection with the Homeland War and whether he was thinking about that in his Christmas message when he asked for an end to vain settling of scores with history, the archbishop was of the opinion that it seems that we have remained stuck in the past, constantly imposing new-old themes from the past, which often seems to divert attention from vital current questions.
When asked whether he was acquainted with talks between President Stjepan Mesić of Croatia and the representatives of the Holy See and whether it was true that the Holy See had offered services to Croatia regarding entry into Europe, Archbishop Bozanić responded that although he was not present at any conversations between the representatives of the Croatian authorities and the Holy See and was not aware that the Holy See had offered such services in this respect, he had heard from reliable sources that the Holy See had posed the question why Croatia was late on its path toward Europe. He explained that two separate delegations had traveled to the Vatican, Government and Church, and they had not met jointly with representatives of the Holy See.
Speaking about a possible third Papal visit to Croatia, the archbishop of Zagreb said that for now this is an open question. A trip is planned and the Holy Father made a statement to this effect to those who were with him. However, the trip has not been officially announced, said Archbishop Bozanić, explaining that it is the practice of the Holy See to announce such visits two months in advance. We can say that officially a visit has not been announced but it is being prepared in the future, he added. He also reported that on January 7 of next year, a special commission from Rome will come to Zagreb and inspect certain places that the Holy Father could visit. A demanding and extensive visit is planned. The cities being discussed are Rijeka, Osijek-Đakovo, Dubrovnik and Zadar. According to the archbishop, the Pope’s visit would be in the sign of the pastoral ministry to the family, and in this respect the Croatian Conference of Bishops has published a Directory of Pastoral Ministry. This would be emphasized by the Pope’s visit to Rijeka, because the Trsat Shrine there is a family shrine in a special sense. The Pope’s visit would also emphasize peace, the prospects of life in peace, civil and societal peace, dialogue and ecumenical dialogue, with particular emphasis on farmers, environmental protection and the earth, which would be connected with the visit to Osijek or Đakovo.

Responding to the question how the Church is preparing for this visit and the beatification of the servants of God Ivan Merz and Marija Petković of the Crucified Jesus, the archbishop said that they are being prepared for within regular Church activities, and the Croatian Conference of Bishops will issue a specific program when the Pope’s visit is announced officially.

Asked for an opinion on the new Family Act, marriage and the fact that homosexulas are seeking their rights, the archbishop pointd out that the society in Croatia, as well as in Europe, should protect the family and its specific characteristics, cautioning that the family institution is not sufficiently protected in our society or the other societies on the continent. It is important for some things regarding the family to be separate and not mixed, since we know what the family is, he added.

The archbishop also spoke about the inititiative for the establishment of a Catholic university, noting that this initiative has come from a variety of sources. The Conference of Bishops has not made a decision but it has shown an openness toward this possibility, said the archbishop, adding that the archbishop of Rijeka, Ivan Devčić, has been entrusted with setting up a commission, i.e. he is supposed to assemble people from the Church educational institutions and the laity who would have something to say about this matter. This commission would present its results to the Croatian Conference of Bishops for examination and further consideration.

The archbishop also reported on the preparations for the Second Archdiocesan Synod, which is, in his words, an opportunity for the local Church to pose questions to itself regarding actual tasks and priorities. Preparations for the synod would last approximately two and a half years.