Zagreb, July 18, 1998 (IKA) – In preparation for the second pastoral visit by Pope John Paul II to the Republic of Croatia and the beatification of the Servant of God Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, the Press Office of the Croatian Conference of Bishops held a press conference at the headquarters of the Croatian Conference of Bishops in Zagreb. The participants in the press conference were Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb, president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops; Bishop Antun Škvorčević of Požega, general secretary of the Croatian Conference of Bishops; retired Archbishop Cardinal Franjo Kuharić of Zagreb; Auxiliary Bishop Marin Barišić of Split, president of the Split Commission for the Reception of the Holy Father; Msgr. Vladimir Stanković, president of the Zagreb Commission; and Msgr. Juraj Batelja, postulator for the case of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac. The conference was conducted by Fra Ilija Živković, head of the Press Office of the Croatian Conference of Bishops.
At the beginning of the press conference, Msgr. Batelja recounted the procedure for the beatification of the Servant of God Cardinal Stepinac, his life, court trial, years of imprisonment, illness and death. Immediately after the cardinal#!s death in 1960, requests from all over the world were made to Archbishop Franjo Šeper of Zagreb and the Pope to begin the process of beatification. In 1979, Cardinal Franjo Šeper and Archbishop Franjo Kuharić sent a special request to Pope John Paul II. The beatification procedure was begun by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on December 4, 1980. In 1993, a judge delegate proposed to the Congregation that the cause of Cardinal Stepinac should be conducted under the titles “On the Life and Virtues” and “On the Martyrdom.” The cause was completed on May 5, 1998, presided over by Cardinal Pio Laghi at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, when it was unanimously decided that Cardinal Stepinac was a genuine martyr of the Catholic faith. On July 3, 1998, the Decree by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on the Martyrdom of the Servant of God Cardinal Stepinac was formally read. It was also decided that Cardinal Stepinac would be beatified and proclaimed a martyr of the Catholic Church on October 3, 1998, during the visit by Pope John Paul II to Marija Bistrica.
In response to a journalist#!s question on whether there was an official position taken
by the Israeli government regarding the beatification of Cardinal Stepinac, Cardinal Kuharić noted that for fifty years propaganda based on hatred and lies has circulated about Cardinal Stepinac, so that many persons in Croatia and other countries have based their opinion about the cardinal on this false propaganda. In order to beatify Cardinal Stepinac, the Church does not need the permission of any government or political party, Cardinal Kuharić pointed out, noting that canonization and beatification are under the exclusive authority of the Church.
The decree by the Holy See is actually the best confirmation of the Church position
regarding the life and work of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, and is the correct Church response to all critics of the cardinal and the process of his beatification, emphasized Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb. He also noted that the beatification of Stepinac is acknowledgement of the Church among the Croats that recognized the servant of God before and after his death. It also marks the conclusion of the communist period, because Cardinal Stepinac was the first victim of the communist authorities to be proclaimed a martyr and blessed.
Bishop Antun Skvorcevic of Požega, general secretary of the Croatian Conference
of Bishops, reminded the journalists about the pastoral purpose of the Pope#!s visit, saying that this visit would be preceded by spiritual preparation devoted to examining the currency of Stepinac#!s message for today#!s Church. “Cardinal Stepinac was a distinguished patriot but his patriotism was not directed against others. He was a fighter for social justice and human rights, and against all totalitarianism,” said Bishop Škvorčević. The immediate preparations for the Holy Father#!s visit to Croatia will begin on the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, August 15. The material for spiritual preparation will be printed in Živo vrelo, and will be sent to priests. A special message from the bishops of the Croatian Conference of Bishops to the faithful is being prepared.
The journalists were informed about the material preparations for the Pope#!s arrival
by the presidents of the Zagreb and Split Commissions for the Reception of the Holy Father. Auxiliary Bishop Marin Barišić of Split, president of the Split Commission for the Reception of the Holy Father, reported on preparations being made in Žnjan, and the cooperation of the Split county government and municipal authorities regarding the Palace of the Archbishop, that had been confiscated during the communist regime and is now supposed to be returned. Bishop Barišić also pointed out the particular significance of the announced meeting between the head of the Catholic Church and young people, catechism instructors, teachers and professors in Solin, on the foundations of the oldest Croatian Marian shrine. Msgr. Vladimir Stanković reported on the preparations in the Zagreb Archdiocese, that will be based on the experience from the Pope#!s last visit in 1994, and the special work being done in Marija Bistrica in preparation for the Pontifical Mass. A logotype and posters are being prepared for
the Pope#!s visit, that will incorporate symbols of all the three places to be visited by the Pope and recognizable details from the history of the Church among the Croats.
At the conference, there was also mention of the signing of the fourth contract between the Republic of Croatia and the Holy See. Archbishop Bozanić noted that the negotiations for the contract are still in progress, and the Church has established that the material goods confiscated from it have still not been returned. The Catholic Church will persevere in the separation of the Church from the state and will not accept financing from the side. It would accept a contribution that is not a gift but compensation for goods confiscated, said the archbishop.