EASTER MESSAGE OF CARDINAL KUHARIC, ZAGREB ARCHBISHOP

ZAGREB, Apr 2 (Hina) - Archbishop of the Zagreb Archdiocese, Cardinal Franjo Kuharic, on Saturday evening sent an Easter message to all Croatian Christian believers all around the world in which he stresses that " on Easter all Christians celebrate the holiest event in history of salvation." Cardinal Kuharic underlined that the Zagreb diocese within the Roman-Catholic Church had already celebrated Easter on these territories for nine centuries. He emphasized that "the Good Friday preceded Eater. The Good Friday reveals all tension of human conscience and human history between good and evil, between truth and lie, between love and hatred." Cardinal Kuharic's message went on as saying that "Jesus Christ- Crucified and Resurrected- ensures absolution from sin to all men, that man can free himself of the evil. He ensures the life of man with God and joins people in togetherness by faith, hope and love." The Easter message concluded: "Therefore the Church celebrates Easter and preaches the Gospel in every civilization, in all languages, both in peaceful and turbulent times! Easter is the holiday of peace!... Therefore we wish that Easter may be the holiday of peace in every heart, every family, and that the Easter peace may reign in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina! Easter is the holiday of hope! Therefore we wish that all those suffering: refugees, prisoners, the wounded, the sick and the lonely can be persistent in cherishing hopes! Easter is the holiday of God's solace! Therefore we wish happy Easter to all bereft of their loved ones, who were killed, missing, or died!" In the end of the Easter message Cardinal Kuharic expressed his wishes for happy Easter also to all benefactors of the Croatian nation and to all who help people in need of their aid. 021919 MET apr 94