A joyful occasion

There are high expectations in Zagreb for the Apostolic Visitation to Croatia by Benedict XVI, scheduled to take place June 4-5, marking the First National Day of Croatian Catholic families. In a press conference held in Zagreb past May 27 the president of Croatian bishops Msgr. Marin Srakic, the vice-president Josip Bozanic and the Croatian minister for Foreign Affairs Gordan Jandrokovic took stock of the preparations for the event. A clear signal. The minister said that the visit of Benedict XVI to Croatia confirms the good and friendly relations between the Country and the Holy See. “We are grateful for this and we are also grateful that our mutual relations have developed in a spirit of friendship, cooperation and understanding. The visit is all the more important considering that the Croatian Republic will soon commemorate the 20th anniversary of its independence and that Croatia is nearing the final phase of EU accession negotiations. This reconfirms the Holy See’s ongoing support for Croatia along its path of European integration; we are nearing EU-adhesion”. In this framework the visit by the Holy Father “is a clear sign of the support of the Holy See and of the Holy Father to the conclusion of the negotiations, for Croatia’s accession to the EU”. We are therefore particularly grateful – continued the Minister for Foreign Affairs – for this support to Croatia during the final phases of accession process to the European Union that will enable its full participation to EU activity, enhancing those values that are deeply rooted within the Croatian nation”. As relates to costs the minister underlined that the Pope’s visit has cost 12 to 14 million Croatian Kune (amounting to approximately one and a half million euro) equally covered by the State and the Church. Cardinal Josip Bozanic pointed out: “A great deal of interest has been expressed to attend the Holy Father’s Apostolic Visitation. A total of 1200 journalists have been issued with accreditations as well as 25 various television stations. The bishops of neighbouring Countries will attend the Mass of June 5 at the Hippodrome in Zagreb. Cardinal Bozanic made known that after the Mass on Sunday Pope Benedict XVI will greet pilgrims in Croatian but also in Slovenian, Italian, German, Hungarian, Serbian and Albanian. The entire Papal Visitation will be broadcast by the Croatian national television. An encouragement for the future. “It is a joyful occasion that enriches our Church and the entire society” of Croatia. The Archbishop of Split-Makarska Msgr. Marin Barisic thus described the first Apostolic Visitation of Benedict XVI to Croatia. “We are pleased to be contemporaries of such historical events, which are significant for our present and open a better future for us. We are going to be visited by the successor of Peter, the Vicar of Christ, the moral pillar of our age. A person who moves men and the world”. Msgr. Barisic further declared that the words of Benedict XVI in Croatia “will also be heard outside of Croatia and will cross the borders of Europe. We should like, above all, for us in Croatia to hear and understand him correctly and for him to provide encouragement for building our future and society upon fundamental and moral-spiritual values. The Holy Father is coming to the First National Encounter of Croatian Catholic Families in order to encourage Croatian families during this difficult time of crisis and send them a prophetic message, a message of faith and hope”. The program. The Holy Mass on Sunday, along with the meeting, scheduled to take place on Saturday, with representatives of civil society, the political, academic, cultural, and business world, the diplomatic corps, and religious leaders and the Prayer Vigil with the youth, are some of “the most significant events” of the Apostolic Journey, as pointed out by the Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi: “upon his arrival at Pleso International Airport in Zagreb Benedict XVI will deliver the first of five speeches of the Visit. A courtesy visit will then be made to the President of the Republic, to whom he will present a reproduction of a musical code kept in the Vatican library. In fact, pointed out Fr Lombardi, the Croatian president is an expert musicologist”. After the meeting His Holiness will receive in private audience the Prime Minister of Croatia at the Apostolic Nunciature of Zagreb. In the afternoon the Holy Father will attend a meeting with representatives of civil society, the political, academic, cultural, and business world, the diplomatic corps, and religious leaders gathered in the National Croatian Theatre in Zagreb. The last event of June 4 is devoted to the youth. 50 thousand are expected to attend the event in Bano Josip Jelacic square, said Fr Lombardi. On the morning of Sunday June 5, a Holy Mass on the occasion of the National Day of Croatian Catholic Families will be celebrated at the Zagreb Hippodrome which according to the organizers will be attended by several hundred thousand faithful. In the afternoon, prior to the farewell ceremony, is scheduled the Liturgy of Vespers with Bishops, Priests, Religious People, and Seminarians and prayer at the tomb of Blessed Alojzije Viktor Stepinac at the Cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and to St. Stephen. According to Fr Lombardi, in the speeches delivered during the Visit the Holy Father will broach themes related to the family and Europe. The papal speeches will be delivered in Italian, and partly also in Croatian.