STEPINAC'S BEATIFICATION IS HISTORIC FOR CHURCH & CROATIA - SAYS POPE

( Editorial: --> 5286 ) MARIJA BISTRICA, Oct 3 (Hina) - The beatification of Croatian Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac is a historic event in the life of the Church and the Croatian nation, Pope John Paul II said in Marija Bistrica on Saturday. One of the outstanding members of the Catholic Church, Stepinac is now entrusted into the memory of his fellow countrymen with the radiant badge of martyrdom, the Holy Father said in the beatification ceremony. "Today we are filled with joy as we join in thanking God for the new fruits of holiness which Croatia offers to the Church in the person of martyr Alojzije Stepinac, Archbishop of Zagreb and cardinal of the Holy Roman Church", the Pope said. "The person of the new Beatus sums up (...) the whole tragedy which befell the Croatian people and Europe in the course of this century marked by the three great evils of fascism, national socialism and communism." The Holy Father recalled that through the centuries, martyrs abounded in these lands, from the time of the Roman Empire on, with figures like Venantius, Domnius, Anastasia, Quirinius, Eusebius, Pollio, Maurus, and many others. "In later centuries they were joined by Nicholas Tavelic and Marcus of Krizevci, and many confessors of the faith during the Ottoman rule, up to those of our own time, among whom the luminous Cardinal Stepinac stands out. "Blessed Alojzije Stepinac did not shed his blood in the strict sense of the word. His death was caused by the long suffering he endured: the last 15 years of his life were a continual succession of trials, amid which he courageously endangered his own life in order to bear witness to the Gospel and the unity of the Church", the Pope said. The Holy Father said he had wanted to visit the Marija Bistrica shrine for some time. "I gladly accepted the proposal of the Croatian Episcopate and today celebrate the solemn beatification ceremony in this significant place", he said, pointing out Stepinac had given his people a sort of compass to serve as an orientation. "He knew well that no bargains can be made with truth, because truth is not negotiable", the Holy Father said. (hina) ha jn 031347 MET oct 98