Osijek, (IKA) – The Provincial Minister of the Croatian Capuchin Province of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić, Friar Jure Šarčević, President of the Croatian Conference of Religious Superiors, in a statement to IKA on the appointment of the Franciscan Capuchin Ivica Petanjak as the Bishop of Krk, said that the appointment of a religious as bishop, in this case a religious brother whom he had guided during an important period of his religious and priestly formation, is of great significance, especially for Croatian religious, Capuchins and the whole Church among our nation. Since our Church has a large number of religious priests and nuns, it is important and prudent to have a bishop chosen from the religious community because such testimony by the Church will be even stronger and more effective at the symbolic level, said Provincial Minister Šarčević.
He also emphasized that this appointment is a type of recognition of our religious by the Holy Father for many years of devoted service to the Church and Croatian nation. At the same time, it is a responsibility and obligation to invest even more in the achievement of the goals and expectations that he set when he decreed that this year, 2015, would be the Year of Consecrated Life. Now it is up to the consecrated, together with their pastors, to do everything for the eternal newness and joy of the gospel to become attractive to the people of our time. In other words, holiness, as the sense of God’s special proximity experienced by religious and proclaimed to others, should enter our nation and society. And holiness, i.e., God himself, will transform our nation in a happy and better world, said Friar Jure.
To Capuchins, especially Friar Ivica, appointment to the rank of bishop is a great challenge for the Capuchin charism of simplicity, evangelical poverty, humble service and closeness to people to become more evident through his episcopal service, said the provincial minister, adding that in the world of competition and struggle, social inequality that breeds violence, as the least of all and servants to all, religious, especially Capuchins, are called to commit themselves to the completion of prophetic tasks, expressing their solidarity with the poor and those on the edge, and in that way transform the world with the spirit of evangelical brotherhood. Croatian religious, especially Franciscan Capuchins, thank Pope Francis for the gift of the episcopate of our brother Ivica Petanjak, which he granted us in this Year of Consecrated Life, concluded Friar Jure Šarčević.