Zadar, (IKA) – “As my Apostolic Journey to Croatia draws to an end, I am happy to join you, the faithful of the Archdiocese of Zadar and neighboring areas, here at the Forum, in the shadow of the Cathedral of Saint Anastasia, the martyr from Syrmia,” said Pope John Paul II in his homily, during the Midday Prayer at the Hour of Sext in Zadar on June 9, on the last day of his third visit to Croatia. At the beginning of his homily, the Pope recalled the presence of his predecessor, Pope Alexander III, “who stopped in the city in March 1177 and visited several places in the vicinity.” The Pope then greeted Archbishop Ivan Prendja of Zadar, Archbishop Emeritus Marijan Oblak, the other bishops of Croatia, Cardinals Angelo Sodano, Miroslav Vlk and Vinko Puljic; Serbian Orthodox Bishop Fotije of Dalmatia, the President of the Republic of Croatia, Stjepan Mesic, and the other civil and military authorities, to whom he expressed his gratitude for everything they had done to make his visit possible.

Noting that this liturgical assembly was taking place on the Monday after the Solemnity of Pentecost, the day on which Croats celebrate the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, the Pope said: “As on the day of Pentecost, the Blessed Virgin has remained spiritually in the midst of the Christian faithful down the centuries, invoking the constant outpouring of the Spirit’s gifts upon the Church as she faces the challenges which arise in different periods of her history. . . . The “sensus fidei” of the Christian people would recognize Mary’s active presence not only in the earliest community, but also throughout the Church’s history. For this reason, the Church has not hesitated to grant her the title of ‘Queen of the Apostles.’” said the Pope.

“Mary’s words and example represent a sublime school of life, at which apostles are formed. Apostles in the past and apostles today. Mary continues to prepare them for mission by her assiduous prayer to the Father, by her closeness to her Son, and by her openness to the promptings of the Spirit,” said the Pope. “It pleases me to know that this Archdiocese has witnessed in recent years the growth and expansion of different forms of lay engagement and apostolate. Dear brothers and sisters, learn from Mary how to be credible witnesses and generous apostles, as you make your own contribution to the great enterprise of the new evangelization. And never forget that a genuine apostolate demands as a prior condition a personal encounter with Jesus, the Living One, the Lord,” said the Pope in his homily at the Zadar Forum, punctuated by the applause of the faithful.

“Mary Most Holy remains a model for all who hear the word of God and put it into practice. How then could there not be a profound spiritual understanding between all believers and the Virgin of the Magnificat? The poor and the humble in every age were not mistaken when they made Mary in silence their Advocate and Mary in service their Queen. Let us, too, draw near to her and learn to imitate her docility and openness to God. Let us, too, the pilgrims of the third millennium, commend ourselves to her intercession, so that by her prayers she may sustain our faith, nourish our hope and make fruitful our charity,” said the Pope, who concluded by asking Mary to come to our aid, protect us, and help us ever to bear witness “to the fruitfulness of love and the authentic meaning of life,” teaching us to build with her the Kingdom of her Son, the “Kingdom of justice, love and peace.” In conclusion, the Pope commended the land of Croatia and the Croatian people to Mary, Queen of the Great Baptismal Vow and Queen of the Holy Rosary. Following the Pope’s homily, there was thunderous applause and shouts of “John Paul!”