CARDINAL BOZANIC THANKS POPE FOR VISITING CROATIA

VATICAN, Nov 6 (Hina) - The Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanic, who is leading 7,000 Croatian pilgrims to Rome, said on Thursday the pilgrimage was yet another opportunity for him to thank the Holy Father for his third pastoral visit to Croatia in June and to congratulate him on the 29 years of his pontificate. #L# In a statement to Hina, Bozanic said he was pleased with the presentation of a collection of essays on Cardinal Franjo Seper during the pilgrimage, which was attended by a dozen cardinals and most of the Croatian bishops. Through the life and work o Cardinal Seper, the collected essays also portrayed the Catholic Church in Croatia, Bozanic said. The archbishop said he was leading the pilgrimage with Croatian bishops in an effort to help the faithful strengthen their church and national unity. (hina) vm sb