Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Gordan Jandroković participated in press conference on Apostolic Visit by Holy Father Benedict XVI to Croatia

The minister said that the Pope’s visit would confirm the 14-century-strong dedication and faithfulness of the Croatian people to the Holy See

Apart from Minister Jandroković, as the Chairman of the State Committee for the Preparation and Monitoring of the Visit by the Holy Father Benedict XVI to the Republic of Croatia, the conference was also attended by Mons. Marin Srakić, the President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Mons. Mijo Gorski, the Auxiliary Bishop of Zagreb and Chairman of the Committee of the Zagreb Archdiocese for Welcoming the Holy Father, and Mons. Enco Rodinis, the General Secretary and Chief Coordinator of the CCB Organizing Committee for the Preparation and Monitoring of the Visit by the Holy Father.

Minister Jandroković pointed out that the coming visit by Pope Benedict XVI was exceptionally important for the Croatian faithful, as well as all the Croatian citizens. The Pope’s visit will confirm the 14-century-strong dedication and faithfulness of the Croatian people to the Holy See, said the minister, pointing out that the Croatian people would never forget that the Holy See had been among the first to recognize the Republic of Croatia.

The visit coincides with Croatia’s entering the final phase of EU accession negotiations, which the Holy See has been advocating ever since Croatia’s gaining of independence, said Minister Jandroković, recalling that even at the recent presenting of credentials of the new Croatian ambassador to the Holy See Pope Benedict XVI had emphasized that Croatia was historically a constituent part of the European family, and would know how to preserve in that family its cultural and religious distinctiveness.

The minister thanked the high representatives of the Church for the successful cooperation in preparing the visit. He drew attention to the meetings of the State Committee for the Preparation and Monitoring of the Visit by the Holy Father, which coordinated at the highest level the preparations on part of the state and local bodies, and included representatives of the Office of the Croatian Government and the President’s Office, the relevant ministries, the City of Zagreb and Zagreb County, Zagreb Holding and Croatia Airlines. Furthermore, a series of operative-level meetings have been held that dealt with specific aspects of the visit. All the duties have been relevantly delegated and are being performed continuously.

The press center will be located at the Westin Hotel, and the press accreditation for covering the event is pending.

Mons. Marin Srakić invited the faithful on behalf of all the bishops to attend the visit by Pope Benedict XVI, which is scheduled for 4 and 5 June in Zagreb, so that the event could leave a mark on the Croatian Church and people.

Mons. Enco Rodinis presented the program of the visit, while Mons. Mijo Gorski presented the updated website www.papa.hr, which will contain all of the information regarding the Pope’s visit.

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