Zagreb (IKA) — Pope Benedict XVI thanked Glas Koncila and the first-place winners of the Catechism Olympics in Croatia for Elementary School and Secondary School Students organized by Mali Koncil (a Catholic publication for young people) for the gift they presented to him at the general audience of June 22 of this year on St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. The winners of the Catechism Olympics presented the Holy Father with his papal coat-of-arms embroidered in agave fibers. This 40 x 30 cm embroidery was the painstaking work of Benedictine sisters on the island of Hvar, known for their ancient tradition of lace-making and embroidered decorations.

A letter dated July 2, 2005, addressed to the director of Glas Koncila, Nedjeljko Pintarić, arrived via the Apostolic Nunciature in the Republic of Croatia and was signed on behalf of the Holy Father by the assessor of the Section for General Affairs, Msgr. Gabriele Caccia. The letter reads as follows:

Reverend Sir,

On the occasion of the general audience of June 22 of this year, you together with the winners of the national Catholic catechism competition of the Republic of Croatia, the Catechism Olympics for Elementary and Secondary Students, presented Pope Benedict XVI with his papal coat-of-arms hand-embroidered in agave fibers by the diligent Benedictine sisters from the island of Hvar. The Holy Father thanks you most sincerely, fervently hoping that the young generations of the Croatian nation will continue to travel the path of the faith of their ancestors, ardently following Christ and growing in wisdom and grace. From his heart, he bestows his Apostolic blessing on you and all the catechists and students who participated in these worthy initiatives. I gladly take this opportunity to express my regards and to salute you in Jesus Christ.

Since the letter arrived at Glas Koncila on July 11, the Feast of St. Benedict, the patron saint of Europe, it is interesting to note that the trip to Italy awarded to the winners of the Catechism Olympics bore St. Benedict’s motto, “Pray and Work.” The competition winners made a pilgrimage to see Pope Benedict XVI as well as the birthplace of St. Benedict, Norsia, during which they became acquainted with this great saint of the Catholic Church and a key figure in western monasticism. The magnificent audience with Pope Benedict XVI on St. Peter’s Square was the culmination of this pilgrimage, lasting from June 19 to 24, during which the winners of this year’s Catechism Olympics also visited Padua, Viterbo and Assisi, becoming acquainted with numerous persons and events that have permanently marked the life and history of the Catholic Church.