Appeal to Croatia

It has become “the fashion” today in Europe “to question with astounding regularity the reality of Europe’s religious roots”. To claim that “European heritage is not based on Christianity is like saying that man can live without oxygen or nourishment”. On April 11 Benedict XVI returned to broach the subject of Europe on the occasion of the presentation of the credentials of the new Ambassador of Croatia to the Holy See Filip Vucak.The bulwark of Christianity. In his speech to the new ambassador Benedict XVI recalled that in 1514 Croatia received from Leo X the honorary title of “scudum saldissimum et Antemurale Christianitatis”, amidst the horrific wars waging across Europe. In defending themselves, the Croatian people also defended Christian Europe that was under constant attack. Coming to our days, the Pope invited the Country to pass down to the young generations “the rich heritage of Croatian history and Christian culture that deeply nourished it and which has always supported Croatian people in times of adversity”. Christian roots. The Pope noted that Croatia is approaching full EU membership. “The Holy See welcomes Europe’s historical member Countries’ entry in the European family. Croatia’s integration – he added – will have to be in full compliance with its own history, and with its own religious and cultural identity. It would be illusory to deny this identity and replace it with another that was born in very different circumstances to those that characterized the birth and the growth of Croatia”. In entering the European Union Croatia should bring “its own typical contribution”. Benedict XVI thus referred to the Christian roots of Europe. “The denial of historical evidence has become customary”. “Croatia should not be afraid to reiterate the truth, rejecting, if necessary, opposing claims. I confide that your country will know how to defend its identity with conviction and pride and avoid the new pitfalls as they appear which, under the pretext of a faulty understanding of religious freedom, are contrary to natural law, to the family, namely, to morality”.The Pope’s trip to Croatia. The Pope underlined that in a few weeks (June 4/5) he will be visiting Croatia. The Pontiff will be in Zagreb on the occasion of the national Day of Croatian Catholic families. During his visit the Holy Father will offer his prayers at the tomb of Blessed Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, archbishop of Zagreb in the years 1937-1960. The Cardinal suffered the persecutions of Tito’s communist dictatorship, and died a martyr. The motto of the visit is: “Together in Christ!” “I wish to offer encouragement to your country together”, His Holiness told the Ambassador. “Together in spite of the innumerable human differences, together in diversity!”.A fresh breath of Christianity. “We regret the fact that Christian values were not given the appropriate relevance in the fundamental documents of the European Union”. It is the wish of the Croatian people “to see that our Mediterranean and Middle-European country” will bring “to the great Europe a fresh breath of Christianity”, said Filip Vucak, new Croatian ambassador to the Holy See, presenting the letters of credentials to the Holy Father. The ambassador pointed out: “After long and difficult negotiations, Croatia is now due to join the European Union”. The “ongoing support of the Holy See” greatly contributed to this achievement, he added. “No EU Member State underwent such a thorny negotiation process – he underlined -. With full responsibility it can be said that the Republic of Croatia enters the European Union as one of its most prepared Member Countries”. The Ambassador referred to the upcoming visit of the Pontiff to Croatia: “Let’s hope that during the Pope’s visit to Croatia it will be known if the negotiation process is concluded by mid-2011 or if we need to wait a few more months”. “Although we are aware that EU adhesion will not result in immediate wellbeing in prosperity -ambassador Vucak concluded -, we wish to be part of it with hope and enthusiasm. Our only wish is to be finally part of the European family that we have always belonged to, as Croatia is an old Christian nation with a strong Christian identity”.