Describing the Holy Father as a proven friend of Croatia and the Croatian people, PM Kosor spoke about a crucial role of the Holy See in efforts to recognise Croatia as an independent country 20 years ago, adding that Croatia would be always grateful to the Vatican for that.
Croatia also enjoys great support from the Vatican and the pope in the process of the completion of its European Union accession negotiations, she said.
This support strengthens us as we would like to come back to a circle of western European democracies and sit at the same table with other EU members, the Croatian premier said.
She thanked the Holy Father for his support during the process of reaching agreement with Slovenia on border demarcation.
Kosor said that the border agreement paved the way for lifting the blockade from Croatia's EU entry talks.
"We were exposed to various criticisms as we managed to agree with the Slovenia government and it was the Holy Father who gave his support to that agreement and friendly dialogue," Kosor said adding that this support thwarted many attacks against the two governments in early 2010.
Extending a warm welcome to the pontiff, Kosor said that the Croatians were proud of their Christian roots and their cultural and national identity which they would preserve when Croatia became the 28th member in the European Union.