"We cannot and should not celebrate Christmas ignoring all those who are hungry or freezing, who are suffering or who are ill, who, doubting, cannot finding the meaning of life, those suffering in prisons. We have to plead for them, because we received the task of carrying the light of Christmas," Bozanic said, among other things, in his midnight homily.
The mass was attended by senior state officials, including Parliament Speaker Vladimir Seks, Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, members of the Government and Parliament, and Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic.
Christmas masses were celebrated in Roman Catholic churches throughout Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The main midnight mass in Bosnia-Herzegovina was held in the Cathedral of the Heart of Jesus in Sarajevo, and was led by the Archbishop, Cardinal Vinko Puljic.
In Belgrade, the midnight mass in the Church of Christ the King was led by Archbishop Stanislav Hocevar.