Grabar-Kitarovic said that the College was an important place for Croatian history and culture. "This place has remained one of the most important places in our national culture. The fruits of labour of many generations have shaped our identity and culture considerably, bearing witness to the fact that the Croatian people and their culture and science without a doubt contribute on an equal footing to joint efforts to build European civilisation on Christian foundations," the President said.
Bogdan briefly outlined the history of the Pontifical Croatian College, saying that the institutions of St Jerome in Rome, which have been active for 563 years, had played an important role for the cultural and social progress of the Croats.
Grabar-Kitarovic later delivered a talk at the Antonianum, the Pontifical University of St Anthony, on the subject of women in politics and challenges in a globalised world.
An audience with Pope Francis is scheduled for Thursday, after which the Croatian president is due to meet with the Holy See's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. She is expected to invite the pontiff to visit Croatia.