POPE BEATIFIES LATE CROATIAN CARDINAL ALOJZIJE STEPINAC

( Editorial: --> 5270 ) MARIJA BISTRICA, Oct 3 (Hina) - Pope John Paul II on Saturday declared beatified late Croatian Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac at a Eucharist celebration in Marija Bistrica. The act was greeted by the joyous singing of hundreds of thousands of gathered faithful. The rite of beatification began with Archbishop of Zagreb Josip Bozanic's and postulator prelate Juraj Batelja's plea to the Pope to commence the beatification act. "Holy Father, as Archbishop of Zagreb, I humbly ask Thee to deign the venerable Servant of God, Alojzije Stepinac, to be included among the blessed", Archbishop Bozanic said to the Pope. Uttering the formula of beatification, the Holy Father said: "We, complying with the wish of Our Brother Archbishop of Zagreb Josip Bozanic, and of many other brothers in the episcopacy and of the many faithful, after considering the opinion of the Congregation For the Causes of the Saints, by Our apostolic authority give permission that venerable Servant of God, Alojzije Stepinac, be from now on called blessed and that his memorial day may be celebrated every year on the day of his birth in heaven, February 10, in places and in the way established by canonical regulations. In the name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit." Archbishop Bozanic presented a brief biography of Cardinal Stepinac. Servant of God Alojzije Stepinac was born on May 8, 1898 in Brezaric near Krasic. He was ordained in October of 1930 in Rome, and was consecrated Zagreb Archbishop Coadjutor with the right to inheritance on June 24, 1934. Following the death of Msgr Antun Bauer, Stepinac took over administration and became Archbishop of Zagreb on December 7, 1937. Stepinac served as Zagreb Archbishop at a very difficult time, prior to, during and after World War Two, persevering in his belief in God, the Church, and in man. After the war, Communist authorities asked him to establish a Catholic Church separated from Rome. Following his refusal to comply, Stepinac was subjected to a rigged political trial at which in 1946 he was sentenced to 16 years of strict confinement and forced labour. After five years of detention in Lepoglava, he was transferred to house confinement in Krasic. Stepinac was appointed Cardinal on January 12, 1953 by Pope Pius XII who praised his virtues and merits. Crushed by the consequences of martyrdom and illness, he never got to wear his crimson cape. He died on February 10, 1960 in Krasic. Upon the declaration of the beatification, a Josip Biffel painting of Cardinal Stepinac was unveiled. (hina) ha 031257 MET oct 98