At the news conference which was convened to present the new HBK compound in the Croatian capital, Cardinal Bozanic said that the Catholic Church believed that this investment project was useful for the Church and for people in Croatia, adding that the construction costs had so far been covered with donations and the HBK's savings.
Following media reports that the project was financed with taxpayers' money, he said that the Church was willing to provide the public and the relevant institutions with the records and the documentation about the construction of these premises.
Commenting on media reports on a decline in the Croatians' trust in the Catholic Church, he said that the Church did not depend on what the media reported.
"The Church does not run in elections and we are not interested in surveys which follow trends and ideologies," the dignitary said.
The head of the HBK, Osijek Archbishop Marin Srakic, said that until now, HBK agencies and offices had been scattered around Zagreb. After the Vatican recognised the HBK, Croatian bishops decided in 1993 to build headquarters.
According to HBK Secretary-General Enzo Rodin, the Italian Bishops' conference as well as donors from Austria, Germany and the United States and Croatian donors raised money for the HBK headquarters.
Rodin said that 2,000 workers from Croatian companies were employed in construction and that Croatian-made materials were used.
The building's designer, Nenad Fabijanic, said this project would enrich the Croatian and Zagreb's architectural landscape.