VATICAN, March 13 (Hina) - On Saturday, Pope John Paul II expressed his standpoints on the situation in Croatia at the end of the five-day visit of Croatian Bishops to the Vatican, and called on them to keep, in a vigilant manner,
freedom, human rights and dignity of every man. The Holy Father advised them to help overcome a social and spiritual crisis that came over Croatia by strengthening the religious sense of the life and solidarity among people. Croatian dignitaries, led by the Archbishop of Zagreb and the head of the Croatian Bishops' Conference, Msgr. Josip Bozanic, have been conducting the 'Ad limina Apostolarum' visit to the Holy See since Monday. They met the Pope three times. First, each of them held a separate meeting, then they were divided into two groups which had the joint lunch with the Pope and on Saturday morning they all attended together the Mass. After your country p
VATICAN, March 13 (Hina) - On Saturday, Pope John Paul II expressed
his standpoints on the situation in Croatia at the end of the five-
day visit of Croatian Bishops to the Vatican, and called on them to
keep, in a vigilant manner, freedom, human rights and dignity of
every man.
The Holy Father advised them to help overcome a social and spiritual
crisis that came over Croatia by strengthening the religious sense
of the life and solidarity among people.
Croatian dignitaries, led by the Archbishop of Zagreb and the head
of the Croatian Bishops' Conference, Msgr. Josip Bozanic, have been
conducting the 'Ad limina Apostolarum' visit to the Holy See since
Monday. They met the Pope three times. First, each of them held a
separate meeting, then they were divided into two groups which had
the joint lunch with the Pope and on Saturday morning they all
attended together the Mass.
After your country passed a period of ordeal, it is now enjoying
peace and freedom, the Vatican Pontiff told the bishops. However,
one should stay alert in order follow the path of the true freedom in
the respect for all human rights. The role of you, shepherds who
constantly care for the good of your flock, is to incessantly direct
people to permanent principles and unchangeable values which the
Creator had put in the foundations of the dignity of every person
and every people, he stressed.
My meetings with you here in Rome have brought back the memory of two
my pastoral visits to Your Homeland in September 1994 and October
1998, which I conducted with God's help, he said adding that today's
meeting with Croatian Bishops in a way concluded those apostolic
trips.
The Pope added that during the separate talks with each bishop from
Croatia he learnt of difficulties they were facing in their
everyday activities.
It is of the vital importance that the Croatian people remain
faithful to its Christian roots, and be simultaneously open to
demands of the present time, the Holy Father said.
To strengthen primarily the religious sense of life is the best
remedy to be used in the social and spiritual crisis which occurred
in your country, he said.
The Pope added that the youth needed a strong example that can help
them not to lose ideals which surpass common things and anything
what is of the secondary importance.
The Holy Father called on the dignitaries to cherish solidarity
among the faithful.
The Church and a political community are independent of each other
in their own fields, but both serve the same human being, he said.
The mutual respect and understanding, which have been furthered by
the recently concluded four treaties between the Holy See and
Croatia, can certainly contribute to the sound and fruitful
cooperation between the Church and the State to the benefit of all
citizens in the country, the Vatican Pontiff explained.
Cardinal Josip Bozanic thanked Pope John Paul for everything he had
done for the Croatian Catholic Church and people and added that
Croatian Bishops had now a task to introduce the social tenets of
the Church in the public life in order to help uphold the social
moral.
(hina) ms