ZAGREB, Oct 25 (Hina) - A special Eucharist was held at the Zagreb Cathedral on Saturday to wrap up celebrations marking Zagreb Archbishop Josip Bozanic's recent elevation to the cardinal's rank.
ZAGREB, Oct 25 (Hina) - A special Eucharist was held at the Zagreb
Cathedral on Saturday to wrap up celebrations marking Zagreb
Archbishop Josip Bozanic's recent elevation to the cardinal's
rank. #L#
The service Bozanic celebrated for the first time in his capacity as
cardinal was attended by the entire Croatian episcopate, bishops
from Bosnia-Herzegovina and some other neighbouring countries, the
new apostolic nuncio to Croatia, Francisco Javier Lozano, and about
400 priests of the Zagreb Archbishopric.
Cardinal Bozanic was welcomed, among others, by the primate of the
Catholic Church in Bosnia-Herzgovina, Cardinal Vinko Puljic.
In his sermon, Bozanic wished that his cardinalship should be a
strong incentive to the development of the Church as well as a
pledge of concord and unity which he said were perpetually under
threat by the selfish interests of individuals and factions working
against the good of Croatia.
He also expressed a wish that people of different world-views
should recognise in his cardinalship the Catholic openness to
dialogue.
Cardinal Bozanic stated the pontificate of John Paul II had been
extremely important for the Croatian people during the communist
rule, when he said the Holy Father understood the oppression of the
Church and the Croatian people.
He recalled what the pope said during his first visit to Croatia in
1994, namely that the Church had the duty to promote and bring
harmony and truth.
At the end of the service, Apostolic Nuncio Lozano welcomed
Bozanic, everyone present, and the Catholic faithful of Croatia.
In his first address at the Zagreb Cathedral, he wished Croatia a
better future. Lozano stressed the Holy See was willing to
cooperate with Croatia in the process of European integration.
(hina) ha sb