Pope receives Croatian prime minister marking twenty years of diplomatic relations

(Vatican Radio) The prime minister of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanovic, was received in audience Monday morning by Pope Benedict XVI, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between Croatia and the Holy See.

The prime minister’s audience with the Holy Father was followed by meetings with Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.

These meetings enabled the parties to discuss the challenges which Croatia is currently facing, both with regard to the economic crisis, as well as on issues of mutual interest within the framework of bilateral relations. As regards the well-known case of Dajla, the two parties agreed to resolve the question as soon as possible, in the spirit of traditional friendship between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia.

Finally, the Holy See reiterated its support for Croatia's legitimate aspirations to full European integration, and consideration was given to the regional situation, with particular reference to the situation of Croatians in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On October 22, a plenary session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops (CCB) released a statement for the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Holy See. The session was chaired by CCB president Archbishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Osijek, and was held Ksaverska cesta 12A. The apostolic nuncio to the Republic of Croatia, Msgr. Alessandro D'Errico, also participated in the session.

During last week’s session the bishops discussed the visit by Mr. Milanović to the Holy See, as well as a symposium on the relations between the Holy See and Croatia to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Republic Croatia. The symposium, which is being organized by the Croatian Embassy to the Holy See, is set to take place October 29 in the Vatican.

At the session, the bishops also discussed details related to the National Pilgrimage of Thanksgiving to Rome during the Year of Faith, which will take place from November 5 to 9, 2012.