Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Friday accompanied the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, on a tour of the Zagreb Cathedral and the Archbishop's Palace, which had sustained heavy damage in the earthquake.
Cardinal Bozanić, Head of the Zagreb Cathedral Reconstruction Committee Ivan Hren and supervising engineer Damir Foretić informed the minister about the damage to the cathedral and the additional steps needed to secure it, singling out the main nave and the apse as the areas requiring urgent restoration.
After the cathedral, the minister toured the Archbishop's Palace, where he was informed about the scope of the damage by Governor Ivica Budinšćak.
In the media statement after the tour, Minister Grlić Radman highlighted the significance of the Zagreb Cathedral for Croatia's heritage and identity, reiterating the Croatian Government's commitment to finding the best modalities of reconstruction and assisting all those affected by the earthquake. "What is important is that Croatia is not alone in this - as a member state of the EU, we can count on the support from its institutions", the minister underscored.
Cardinal Bozanić thanked Grlić Radman and the Croatian Government for its efforts in helping the earthquake victims, notably families who had lost their homes. "Situations like these pose a great challenge to all of us to do all we can for everyone's well-being. Let the upcoming celebration of the Mother of God of the Stone Gates be another symbol of these efforts," the cardinal said.
After the statements, Cardinal Bozanić and Minister Grlić Radman discussed topical matters concerning the Church and the society.