Dubrovnik, (IKA) – On October 20, the 39th session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops began in Dubrovnik. The session, held in the John Paul II Hall of the convent of St. Clare, was inaugurated by the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Osijek. In addition to greeting the assembled bishops, Archbishop Srakić particularly welcomed the apostolic nuncio in Croatia, Archbishop Mario Roberto Cassari, who is participating in the session; Cardinal Josip Bozanić, Bishop Želimir Puljić as the host, and the new member of the CCB, Bishop Nikola Kekić of Križevci. He also welcomed the representative of the Bosnian and Herzegovian Conference of Bishops, Bishop Franjo Komarica; and Bishop Ivan Penzeš of Subotica, Bishop Đuro Gašparović of Srijem and Bishop Ilija Janjić of Kotor, who are guests at the session. Archbishop Srakić then congratulated Bishop Janjić on the 1,200th anniversary of the translation of the relics of St. Tryphon from Constantinople to Kotor.

Archbishop Srakić announced that the bishops would be dealing with many questions during the session and devote particular attention to Croatia’s accession to the European Union. Since many processes are occurring in Europe, and thus also in Croatia, which perplex the faithful and cause difficulties, the archbishop announced the topic “The Believer before the Challenges of the Plural (Permissive) Society.” The bishops will continue to consider the question of the broadcasting of the Mass on radio and television, study the Papal encyclical Caritas in Veritate, analyze the proposal for the document Priestly Formation or Ratio fundamentalis nationalis Croatiae, weigh proposals and suggestions for the celebration of the Year of the Priest at the level of the Croatian Conference of Bishops and examine issues in connection with the implementation of the Agreements between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia. The bishops will also be informed about the status of the construction of the new CCB building.

Archbishop Srakić announced a pilgrimage to be made by the bishops to the island of Daksa, “the site of the massacre of the Dubrovnik intelligentsia, including several priests, by the Yugo-communists,” if time permits. The host of the conference, Bishop Želimir Puljić, welcomed the members of the CCB, noting, among other things, that the session was taking place in a city that had been inscribed for the second time in the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, on this occasion for the Feast of St. Blaise.