ZAGREB, Oct 20 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on +Tuesday awarded medals to Church dignitaries and state officials +who organised the visit of Pope John Paul II to Croatia on October 2-+4.+ "By presenting you with these
high Croatian medals, I would like to +thank you once more on the behalf of the Croatian people and myself, +for the efforts invested so that the Pope's visit to Croatia could +pass in a dignified manner and magnificent atmosphere in the +presence of a million people," Tudjman said.+ The President pointed out that medals are going to be awarded to +Zagreb's Archbishop Josip Bozanic and Djakovo's Bishop Marin +Srakic at the forthcoming ceremony in Vatican when medals will be +presented to dignitaries of the Holy See.+ "The visit of John Paul II resounded greatly all over Croatia and +the world, and once again confirmed the unbreakable centuries-old +bonds
ZAGREB, Oct 20 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on
Tuesday awarded medals to Church dignitaries and state officials
who organised the visit of Pope John Paul II to Croatia on October 2-
4.
"By presenting you with these high Croatian medals, I would like to
thank you once more on the behalf of the Croatian people and myself,
for the efforts invested so that the Pope's visit to Croatia could
pass in a dignified manner and magnificent atmosphere in the
presence of a million people," Tudjman said.
The President pointed out that medals are going to be awarded to
Zagreb's Archbishop Josip Bozanic and Djakovo's Bishop Marin
Srakic at the forthcoming ceremony in Vatican when medals will be
presented to dignitaries of the Holy See.
"The visit of John Paul II resounded greatly all over Croatia and
the world, and once again confirmed the unbreakable centuries-old
bonds Croatia has had with the Holy See and the heads of the Catholic
Church," Tudjman stressed.
Cardinal Franjo Kuharic thanked the President on the behalf of the
awarded Church dignitaries.
"Let the fruits of Pope John Paul II's blessings be freedom, peace
and progress in solidarity, hope and investment in humane and
religious values through the cooperation of all citizens of good
will. Let God's help follow your efforts to make Croatia a blessed
country for all its citizens," Cardinal Kuharic stressed.
Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure Radic thanked the
President on behalf of the awarded state officials and some 15,000
people who participated in different ways in the preparations for
the Holy Father's visit to Croatia.
The awarded Church dignitaries are: former Archbishop of Zagreb
Cardinal Franjo Kuharic, Split-Makarska Bishop Monsignor Ante
Juric, assistant Bishop Monsignor Marin Barisic.
Awarded members of the Archbishop's Welcoming Committee: prelate
Vladimir Stankovic, prelate Juraj Batelja, Zvonimir Kurecic,
reverend Mijo Gabric, father Serafin Sabol, don Josip Loncar.
Awarded state officials: Reconstruction and Development Minister
Jure Radic, Interior Minister Ivan Penic, Zagreb's Mayor Marina
Matulovic-Dropulic, Culture Minister Bozo Biskupic, Health
Minister Zeljko Reiner, Maritime Affairs, Transport and
Communications Minister Zeljko Luzavec, Presidential Advisor
Zlatko Canjuga, Split's Mayor Ivan Skaric, along with several local
officials of the three counties visited by the Holy Father.
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