Pastoral letter from Croatian bishops
for Pope's visit on June 4-5
Translated from the Italian service of
O3 FEB 2011 (RV) - "Every pastoral visit of the Pope brings hope, restores pride, reawakens interior strength, encourages and fortifies the sense of worth and nobility that exists among out people".
Thus the Croatian bishops' conference wrote in a pastoral letter concerning the visit of Benedict XVI to that country on June 4-5.
Croatia had three visits from John Paul II, the bishops recall, each time at a historic moment for their country, "and so it will be for Benedict XVI who knows the situation of the Church in Croatia and the environment in which the Croatian people live today".
The visit, they say, comes during a profound cultural, economic and political crisis which reflects a profound spiritual crisis as a time when Croatia is about to join the European Union.
The bishops said the crisis raised many questions and challenges for Croatian young people, and they expect that with the Pope's visit, "they may recognize the strength of the faith with greater enthusiasm, discover their identity in the Church, bear courageous witness to the Christian presence in society, following the example of the saints, committing themselves to the common good by the donation of self and the strength of the Cross".
The motto for the Pope's visit is "Together in Christ". On June 4, the Pope will address representatives of various sectors in Croatia's civilian society and the diplomatic corps. Afterwards, he will have a separate encounter with young people.
The Croatian bishops have prepared a series of catecheses stressing community prayer and the family, invoking the help of St. Joseph, patron of Croatia, and of Blessed Alojsius Stepinac.
.
Croatia is holding its first national encounter of families in order to underscore" matrimonial communion as the source and foundation of the family. the first vital cell of human society, a school of communion and social solidarity".
On June 5, the Pope will visit the tomb of Blessed Aloysius and celebrate Mass at the Zagreb hippodrome.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 06/02/2011 11:02]