between Croatia and the Holy See for over 13 centuries, and they +have been systematically built on mutual respect and friendship, +said Ivo Livljanic, the first Croatian Ambassador to the Holy See. +Livljanic took up the office on
July 3, 1992 and was Ambassador to +the Vatican for more than six years.+ Livljanic said this last week in Zagreb, where he held a lecture on +Croatia-Holy See relations, at a Croatian Catholic Society's +forum.+ The friendly relations between Croatia and the Holy See have been +confirmed during the recent war and Serbian aggression on Croatia. +Pope John Paul II's two visits to Croatia, in only four years, were +the best proof of that friendship, Livljanic said. + The long history of Croatia-Holy See relations is recorded in a +written document bearing the date June 7, 879, when Pope
ZAGREB Oct 25 (Hina) - There was no interruption in the relations
between Croatia and the Holy See for over 13 centuries, and they
have been systematically built on mutual respect and friendship,
said Ivo Livljanic, the first Croatian Ambassador to the Holy See.
Livljanic took up the office on July 3, 1992 and was Ambassador to
the Vatican for more than six years.
Livljanic said this last week in Zagreb, where he held a lecture on
Croatia-Holy See relations, at a Croatian Catholic Society's
forum.
The friendly relations between Croatia and the Holy See have been
confirmed during the recent war and Serbian aggression on Croatia.
Pope John Paul II's two visits to Croatia, in only four years, were
the best proof of that friendship, Livljanic said.
The long history of Croatia-Holy See relations is recorded in a
written document bearing the date June 7, 879, when Pope John VIII
blessed Croatian Prince Branimir and his people. This document is
also the first written document by which Croatia was
internationally recognised. The independent Croatia celebrates
this date as the Day of Croatian Diplomacy, Livljanic recalled.
Another proof of the good relations between Croatia and the Holy See
is a permission on the use of Croatian in religious service, granted
by Pope Innocent VIII in 1248, much earlier than many other European
nations were granted such a privilege, Livljanic stressed.
While Pope Leon X in 1517 calls Croats "the strongest shield and
defence of Christianity", Pope Sixtus V erects St. Jerome basilica
in Rome in 1591, and grants it an unique privilege for its canons to
be "only Croats by birth and language".
Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, Zagreb's Cardinal and a martyr, also
bears witness to the close relations between Croatia and the Holy
See. Cardinal Stepinac was firm in his decision not to sever the
Croatian-Vatican relations, even though he was requested to do so
by the former Yugoslav communist authorities.
Pope John Paul II served mass in Croatian for the first time in 1979,
on the occasion of the 1100th anniversary of Croatia's allegiance
to the Holy See.
On January 13, 1992, the Vatican recognised Croatia, giving it
international political and legal protection. By this the Vatican
also confirmed that the attack on Croatia was the most obvious act
of aggression against a sovereign state.
With his first visit to Croatia in September 1994, John Paul II
wanted to encourage Croatians to stay devoted to moral principles.
The central event of his second visit in October 1998 was the
beatification of Cardinal Stepinac, said Livljanic.
The four agreements Croatia has so far signed with the Holy See can
stand as an example to other countries in transition, he added.
(hina) it/rml