Zagreb, November 7, 2001 (IKA) — An international symposium on Cardinal Franjo Šeper, organized on the twentieth anniversary of his death by the Archdiocese of Zagreb and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of Rome, began today, November 7, at the Komedija Theater in Zagreb. “The life and work of Cardinal Franjo Šeper have left a significant impact on the history of the Catholic Church among the Croatian nation, as well as the Universal Church. Under the particular circumstances following the Second World War, it was not easy to assume the leadership and heritage of our largest diocese and discover new paths for the growth of faith,” said Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb in his introductory remarks, noting how the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac’s colleague during his studies, closest associate and later the first successor to the Zagreb cathedra, Archbishop Franjo Šeper, was a conciliar father in the true sense. “ We consider his service in the leadership of the largest congregation of the Holy See as a separate contribution and the presence of our Church at the level of the Universal Church,” emphasized Archbishop Bozanić. He then greeted Cardinal Franjo Kuharić; the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Giulio Einaudi; Bishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo and Srijem; and the vice president of the Croatian Government, Dr. Goran Granić. The current head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Joseph Raztinger, delivered the first presentation on Cardinal Franjo Šeper, on his service as the prefect of the Holy Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. To examine the works by Cardinal Franjo Šeper twenty years after his death, which occurred in the troubled 1970s, is to attempt to gain insight into how the Holy Spirit guided him during that delicate period, when it was necessary to implement the guidelines of the Second Vatican Council in the key institution of the Church — the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said Cardinal Ratzinger in his introduction. He recalled the historical context for the appointment of Cardinal Šeper as the head of the Congregation, and differentiated between the two directions of his work as the reorganization of the work itself and the defense of the doctrine of the faith for evident reasons. Regarding the organizational work, Cardinal Šeper devoted particular attention to the doctrinal, priestly and fraternal areas, while he intervened in the defense of religious doctrine by resolving dogmatic and moral problems. Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, the secretary of the Congregation, spoke of Cardinal Šeper during his service as the president of the International Theological Commission and the Pontifical Biblical Commission. A presentation was also delivered by Dr. Juraj Kolarić on Cardinal Šeper as the coadjutor archbishop and archbishop of Zagreb. Pope Pius XII appointed Franjo Šeper as the coadjutor archbishop sedi datus of Zagreb on July 22, 1954. After the death of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, on February 10, 1960 Franjo Šeper became the apostolic administrator and on March 5, 1960 he was appointed residential archbishop and metropolitan of Zagreb. He also served as the president of the Conference of Bishops of Yugoslavia. Dr. Kolarić spoke on the cardinal’s liturgical-pastoral work and his relationship with the state. The morning session of the symposium was moderated by Auxiliary Bishop Vlado Košić of Zagreb. The symposium participants included the Croatian bishops, led by Archbishop Bozanić, Bishop Franjo Komarica of Banja Luka, and numerous figures in religious life.