POPE JOHN PAUL II RECEIVES CROATIAN DELEGATIONS

ROME, Apr 7 (Hina) - Pope John Paul II today granted an audience to members of the Croatian Government and Church committees for organising the Pope's visit to Croatia on 10 and 11 September last year. The Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Franjo Kuharic, and Deputy Prime Minister Jure Radic thanked the Pope for all he had done for the Croatian people and invited him to visit Croatia again. The Pope received both delegations in the Popes' Hall in the Vatican. The delegations included Ivan Jarnjak, Ivan Mudrinic, Marina Dropulic, Franjo Greguric, Mons. Marko Culej, Zvonimir Kurecic, Tomo Petric and others. "My visit to Zagreb last year has been an unforgettable experience for me," the Pope said, stressing that he had seen the "living faith of the Croatian people, rich with a tradition older than thirteen centuries." "This faith was shown in the streets, in the Cathedral where the body of God's Servant, Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac, is laid to rest, and particularly during the Holy Mass at the Hippodrome, by the enthusiastic participation of a great multitude of believers that came from all parts of Croatia and which included numerous displaced people and refugees," the Pope said. The Pope had visited Croatia in order to "preach hope and tell members of different religious communities and all people of good will that love and forgiveness were the only foundation for a future of peace, spiritual and material growth - a future worthy of man," the Pope said. "I wanted to take this evangelical message to Sarajevo, but it was not possible," he said. Stressing the importance of a fruitful cooperation between Church and State, the Pope said: "My wish is for free and independent Croatia to overcome the difficulties inherited from the former system - I wish that efforts be made to heal the deep wounds of the past and to mend and repair the moral and material devastation caused by the war which, unfortunately, is not yet over." The Pope stressed he prayed every day for peace in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. "Allow me to convey again President Tudjman's invitation to visit our country again, particularly its southern part, on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of Split - the city with the oldest cathedral in the world," Deputy Prime Minister, Jure Radic, said, expressing gratitude to the Vatican for having been the first to recognise Croatia as an independent country. "Thank you for everything you have done for Croatia during your pontificate, drawing the world's attention to the suffering of Croats, both in the Communist regime and during the greater-Serbian aggression, which we are still suffering, together with neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina," Radic said. Cardinal Kuharic stressed that the Pope's visit to Zagreb and Croatia on September 10 and 11 last year had been received in dignity, devotion, security and peace. "You have preached peace which is attained by reconciliation and forgiveness. You have come to us with the Cross and the Gospel. May the fruits of the Word you sowed in our souls grow in us!" Cardinal Kuharic expressed the wish that the Pope should come to Zagreb to declare blessed "the Servant of God, Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac, a martyr of faith and loyalty," Kuharic said. He was hopeful that the Pope would declare blessed "another four Servants of God, all four from Zagreb: Bishop Josip Lang, Friars Ante Antic and Vendelin Vosnjak, and a young activist of the Catholic Action, Ivan Merz." After the audience, both delegations visited the Croatian Pontifical Institute of St. Geronimo. Papa visited Zagreb on the occasion of the 900th anniversary of the Zagreb Archdiocese in September last year. He was greeted by a million Croatian citizens and believers. + (hina) mm as 071912 MET apr 95