On the occasion of the election of His Holiness Benedict XVI as head of the Catholic Church, it is with special respect and joy that I extend to You sincere greetings on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration and myself.
Your Excellency, please be so kind as to communicate our best wishes to the Holy Father, as well as the belief that with his moral authority and spiritual strength in fulfilling his demanding duty and his holy mission he will rise up to the challenge of the third millennium and bring a genuine humanism, justice and peace to the world.
With a belief in the friendship, co-operation and mutual respect between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia, please accept my deepest personal respect.