Croatia's premier officially invited the pontiff to visit Zagreb which he gladly accepted.
After the audience, Sanader told reporters that he had thanked Pope Benedict XVI for the efforts the Vatican had made lobbying for the international recognition of Croatia in 1992.
Sanader added that the pope had asked him about Croatia's progress in the accession negotiations with the European Union and that the Holy Father told him that "Croatia belongs to the European Union and must become its member".
Sanader explained that although it was not an EU member, the Vatican is a moral authority in the European society and the world, which is why its support to Croatia is extremely important.
Sanader and the pontiff also discussed bilateral relations.
"Croatia has signed very important agreements with the Holy See. The implementation of those agreements is proceeding well but not as quickly as both parties would like," Sanader said.
In response to reporters' questions, the Croatian premier said that he personally was not satisfied with the pace of the implementation of the agreements.
"I am not satisfied with the pace, but the pace of restitution of church property does not depend on political will but on technical possibilities. Some church property confiscated during the Communist dictatorship in Yugoslavia has changed several owners in the meantime and it is now a technical issue how to refund and not to damage property owners," Sanader added.
He said that the friendship between Croatia and the Vatican and the faithfulness of the Croatian people to the Holy See has been evident many times.
This is also proved by today's visit of Croatian pilgrims, including Homeland Defence War veterans, their families and families of dead and missing soldiers, the premier added.
On this occasion, PM Sanader also met the Vatican State Secretary, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and invited him to visit Croatia.