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

The conference was held after a meeting between the State and Church Committee for the Preparation of the Visit by the Holy Father

The conference was held after a meeting between the State and Church Committee for the Preparation of the Visit by the Holy Father, and apart from Minister Jandroković as Chairman of the State Committee saw the participation of Mons. Marin Srakić, the Archbishop of Đakovo-Osijek, President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops and Chairman of the Church Committee, as well as Cardinal Josip Bozanić, the Archbishop of Zagreb and Vice-President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops. Minister Jandroković pointed out the significance of the visit for the faithful and the rest of the Croatian citizens, saying it once again confirmed the exceptionally good and friendly relations between Croatia and the Holy See. He also said that the visit came towards the very end of Croatia’s EU accession negotiations, which reconfirmed the Holy See’s continuous support for Croatia along its path of European integration.

Remarking on the progress of the preparations for the visit, Minister Jandroković thanked the Church representatives for the excellent cooperation. Today’s final meeting between the state and Church committees was held to review all that has been done thus far, concluding that the preparations had been successful and had entered their final stage.

Minister Jandroković also recalled the state’s activities through the State Committee for the Preparation and Coverage of the Visit, set up by the Croatian government. The Committee consists of representatives from the government, Office of the President, Parliament, MFAEI, MUP, MORH, MZOŠ, MZOPUG, MMPII, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, City of Zagreb, Zagreb County, Zagreb Holding and Croatia Airlines.

He also pointed out that the organizational expenses had been rationalized and are expected to fall between 12 and 14 million kuna, equally divided between the state and the Church.

Archbishop Srakić and Cardinal Bozanić thanked all of the state and Church representatives for their engagement, expressing belief that the Croatian faithful would once again in a large number and dignified manner receive the Holy Father.

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