"The news of Cardinal Ratzinger's election as the new pope was received with great satisfaction in Croatia because we know him quite well," Mrzljak told Hina.
He recalled that Ratzinger visited Zagreb in November 2001 to attend a seminar on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the death of Cardinal Franjo Seper. After the seminar, he conducted a mass in the Zagreb cathedral.
"Croatian bishops then had the opportunity to meet Cardinal Ratzinger and they saw for themselves how simple, educated and friendly towards other people he was," Mrzljak said.
"Many may describe him as conservative, but he is simply a man of faith. He will certainly leave a special mark on his pontificate and that is why he chose the name Benedict XVI," Mrzljak said.
He recalled that Pope Benedict XV was head of the Roman Catholic Church during World War I and that he was a peacemaker and wished to reconcile peoples.
"Today we again live in a time that is rather difficult, with wars going on in the world. Peacemaking will therefore be one of the main characteristics of the new pope's pontificate, and he is also certain to preserve the harmony of faith in the best possible way, as he has been doing so far," Mrzljak said.
"I believe that we Croats have a new friend," he added.