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I was able to observe
how much Christianity has contributed to the cultural, spiritual
and moral development of Croatia
Vatican, (IKA, 11th
June 2003) – Pope John Paul II spoke about his third apostolic trip
to Croatia today during his general audience at the Vatican.
Thanking God for this hundredth trip, the Pope said: “I returned to
the noble Croatian land to confirm my brethren in their faith; I
wished to convey to all a message of peace and reconciliation and
had the joy of elevating Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified Petkovic
(Marija Propetog Isusa Petkovic) to the honor of the altar. The Pope
especially thanked the Croatian bishops, President of the Republic,
other civil and military authorities, the Rijeka Archdiocese and its
seminary who provided hospitality to the Pope and his entourage.
The Pope spoke about the “first stage” of his visit, Dubrovnik,
“proud of its history and its tradition of liberty and justice.” It
was during the Pope’s visit to Dubrovnik that he beatified Mary of
Jesus Crucified Petkovic, “a great daughter of the Church in the
land of Croatia. . . . In the light of this admirable figure, I
delivered a special message to Croatian women, whom I urged to offer
the Church and society their spiritual and moral contribution; I
asked consecrated women to be eloquent signs of the presence of
God’s love among people in a special way,” said the Pope, recounting
his trip to Dubrovnik.
The next stage of the Pope’s trip on the following day was in
Osijek, where, as he said, he had “the pleasure of presiding at the
solemn conclusion of the Second Diocesan Synod and commemorating the
150th anniversary of the Zagreb Ecclesiastic Province. On this
occasion, I reflected upon holiness as the vocation of every
Christian: this is one of the central teachings of the Second
Vatican Council. I particularly invited the lay faithful to
appreciate fully the grace of baptism and confirmation. Only those
inspired by robust faith and generous love can be apostles of
reconciliation and the reconstruction of morality, where the wounds
of the sad and difficult past still remain open,” said the Pope,
recalling the Mass he celebrated in Osijek. He also referred to his
brief visit to Djakovo and the local cathedral.
The Pope then spoke of his visit to Rijeka, on the feat of
Pentecost, where he sought to affirm the “primary social importance
of the institution of the family, urging special consideration and
concrete policies favoring the establishment, development and
stability of families.” The Pope then recalled his visit to the
Shrine of Our Lady of Trsat, where he “joined the pilgrims who
venerate Our Lady there.”
In conclusion, the Pope spoke about the last stage of his trip,
Zadar, “a city rich in history,” on the feast of Our Lady, Mother of
the Church. “This Marian holy day, that prolongs the solemnity of
Pentecost, is as if we were once again reliving the atmosphere of
the Upper Room. Then as today, Mary continues to be present in our
Ecclesiastic community: a presence humble and discreet, inspiring us
to prayer and life in the Spirit; a contemplative presence, who
reminds the pastors and the faithful of the primary role of the
interior life, of listening and assimilating the words of God, an
indispensable condition for convincing and effective evangelical
proclamation.”
“Dear brothers and sisters! During this trip, I was able to see how
much Christianity had contributed to the artistic, cultural and
especially spiritual and moral development of Croatia and its
people. On this solid base, the dear Croatian nation, at the
beginning of the third millennium, will be able to continue to build
its cohesion and stability, for its harmonious integration into the
community of the peoples of Europe. May God continue to bless and
protect Croatia! Croatia will always have a privileged place in my
affections and in my prayers!” said the Pope, concluding his remarks
on his trip to Croatia during today’s general audience at the
Vatican. |
