Zagreb, October 3, 1998 (IKA) — This afternoon, October 3, Pope John Paul II met with the President of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Franjo Tuđman, at the Presidential Palace. A reception for the Holy Father was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, the Croatian Government, the Croatian Parliament, police and military. For the first time in history, the seventeen historical units of the First Croatian National Guard were presented. At this meeting, President Tuđman gave the Holy Father a framed high-relief metal plaque by the academic sculptor Prof. Kruno Bošnjak entitled “Holy Father John Paul II, the Croatian Nation Will Never Forget You,” and a bronze statue of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac by the academic sculptor Tomislav Ostoja. The Holy Father presented the President of the Republic of Croatia with a framed bas-relief bronze plaque depicting SS. Peter and Paul, which the Pope said represents a period that belongs to the past but opens toward the third millennium. The Holy Father also met with the members of President Tuđman#!s family. Then he and President Tuđman retired to the President#!s office where they discussed relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia, as well as international relations.
In a separate area, representatives of the Croatian Government and Church among the Croats met with representatives of the Holy See. The representatives of the Holy See were Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Msgr. Giovanni Battista Re and the apostolic nuncio to the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Giulio Einaudi. The Catholic Church in the Republic of Croatia was represented by retired Archbishop Cardinal Franjo Kuharić and Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb. The Government of the Republic of Croatia was represented by Premier Zlatko Mateša; the minister of foreign affairs, Dr. Mate Granić; the president of the Government Commission for Preparations for the Visit by the Holy Father to Croatia, Dr. Jure Radić; and the ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Holy See, Dr. Marijan Šunjić.