THE SHEPHERD FOR THE PERIOD OF TRANSITIONAL

AIM Zagreb, 8 October, 1997

Three years ago, the celebration of 900th anniversary of Zagreb bishopric (which became the seat of an archbishop in 1852) was attended by the Pope John Paul II. A Belgrade media claimed at the time that cardinal Franjo Kuharic had cried because the Pope was forcing him to retire. But, huis etars were just a sign that he was touched because the Pope had finally decided to visit Croatia, which had been negotiated ever since the time of the SFRY. Besides, each and every (arch)bishop knows that, according to the ecclesiastic code, when he reaches the age of 75 he must offer his request to retire (this does not refer only to the Roman bishop, i.e. the Pope), and the Holy See, therefore, the Catholic supreme authority, decides when the church dignitary concerned will actually retire.

Back in 1994, cardinal Kuharic, born in 1919, had requested to retire, which was accepted by the Pope only this year. On 5 July it was published that Krk bishop Josip Bozanic was nominated to be his successor, and on 4 October, in Zagreb Cathedral, Kuharic formally handed over to him the shepherd's sceptre, i.e. management of the archbishopric. Kuharic had remained archbishop after 1994 in order to complete what he had begun, primarily the division of Zagreb archbishopric. It was one of the largest in the world (two million believers in more than 470 parishes), so because of its hugeness, the archbishop and his three "assistants" (bishops) simply could not meet all their obligations. In the end of September, among the last Kuharic's assignments was inauguration of Marko Culej and Antun Skovrcevic, the first bishops to reside in Varazdin and Pozega, places which had become bishoprics by "secession" from the large archbishopric.

Therefore, Kuharic, who had ruled the Archbishopric since 1970, is not any more the head of the most prominent (arch)bishopric in the Republic of Croatia and the Catholic Church od the Croats in general, i.e. in the Church of the Croatian language (the Church in B&H belongs to it, as well as in other countries where in parishes or missions Croatian language is used, that is, where Catholics-Croats live). But, he did not retire altogether. As a cardinal, until the age of 80, he is entitled, if need arises, to take an active part in election of a new pope.

The new Zagreb archbishop, born in 1949, had lived in Vrbnik on the island of Krk until departure to seminary (and classic grammar school). In Vrbnik - a village of 900 people - 23 contemporary priests and monks were born! One of them is Josip's younger brother Anton, doctor of theology, who is the spiritual father in a Croat mission in the USA. Monsignor Josip Bozanic studied in Rijeka, acquired his master's degree in Zagreb in dogmatic theology, and in Rome acquired a licentiate of canon law. For about ten years he lectured at Rijeka divinity college. He took holy orders in 1975 in Krk, and was quickly promoted, so that already by 1989, he was the bishop of Krk and surrounding islands.

At first sight it appears that the Pope "threw into the fire" of an archbishopric of 1,400,000 souls, the shepherd from the "periphery", pastoral bishopric of 30 thousand believers. An archbishopric from where the influence is spread not only around the metropolis (which apart from Zagreb archbishopric, includes also the Varazdin, Krizevac, Pozega and Djakovo-Srijem bishoprics), but on to the entire Catholic population in Croatia: three metropoles, four archbisoprics, ten bishoprics (including the army bishopric which exists in many countries in the West, with its bishop Juraj Jezerinac, inaugurated on 5 October); with fifteen bishops, more than 2,300 episcopal and monastic priests, 3,800 nuns, about 850 theologians and seminarists..., in other words, according to the 1991 census, three quarters of the population of the Republic of Croatia.

    However, Monsignor Josip Bozanic is not a "temporary"

or a "transitional" solution. Rome has intentionally chosen Bozanic for the shepherd at the time marked by transition from the time of socialism, Yugoslavia and the state of war into a new era, in which the rule about "free Church and free state" should truly be established. All the communication "types and calibres", different challenges which he could not have had in his small bishopric, Msgr. Bozanic has largely tested himself in at the episcopal conference in which he was perhaps the "busiest" member. Even at the time of the episcopal conference of Yugoslavia, Bozanic was the vice-president of the "Justitia et pax" commission. In 1989 he became the president of the Council for Lay Persons, and remained that in the Croatian Episcopal Conference (HBK) officially founded in May 1993. Among other, since the foundation of the HBK, he is a member of the Permanent Council ("management" of the Croatian Catholic episcopate), and a member, and since 1996 the president of the Commission for relations with the state. Msgr. Bozanic is a member of a specific "coordination" of the Church of all Croats - mixed commission of episcopal conferences of Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina, and superiors of friars and nuns. His appearances at gatherings and abroad were outstanding, and he participated in sessions of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

    He is a cooperative person with high organizing

capabilities, and now he will have to prove that he is also a good leader, at the post with the highest responsibility. It will be necessary to initiate resolution of numerous "internal problems, for example in connection with the economic aspect of ecclesiastic life, but what may be even more difficult, to win over allies for sincere implementation of true solutions. On the other hand, it can be of great help to him that he is a patient man, and a man who takes his time in achieving his goals. After all, in view of his age. Msgr. Bozanic will for at least 27 years be the most prominent shepherd of the Church in Croatia. Of course, if his health does not fail him, and if a Pope does not invite him to take a responsible post in the administration of the Holy See.

In his interviews and other statements, according to journalistic criteria, he did not differ from the other, older bishops, but now he will be the "elder". Bozanic's views are "evolutionist", that is, for Croatian circumstances in some segments even "liberalistic". Zagreb bishopric was taken over by a shepherd open to the future, inclined to the council and ecumenism. At the inauguration there were confirmations of the assessment that Bozanic is at the same time a sign of continuity and development, neither conservation nor revolution, but evolution. On the one hand, 4 October was intentionally chosen for inauguration, since it is the day of St. Francis of Assisi, which is also the name-day of cardinal Kuharic, and on the other hand, in his first sermon in which he presented his "program", Msgr. Bozanic declared: "Our priority is promotion of social justice". His predecessor whom Bozanic greatly respects, had never stressed the social aspect to such an extent, but because the challenges were different (the time of Serb armed rebellion and aggression), or because social engagement of the Church was systematically curbed (at the time of socialism).

Primarily by listening and watching what archbishop Bozanic will be doing, not only Catholics, but also members of the Orthodox church, the Muslims and other non-Catholics, and people who are not believers will be judging the Church in the Republic of Croatia. Bozanic will have to prove to God and the people to what extent the Church, now in the independent state, is capable - by revitalizing and modernizing itself from within - of producing constructive effects in the Croatian society. Even if, in Kuharic's time, the Church could be forgiven or at least if one can have certain understanding for the fact that the Church had not prepared better for the new age, Bozanic and his associates will not be able to count on so much tolerance for their possible failures.

Entrefilet

UNEXPECTED DINNER PARTY

In his first archbishop's sermon, Bozanic said that "Croatia nowadays needs thinkers and creators, people with new visions, people of spirit who will introduce understanding, negotiations and peace into our too radicalized and strained public".

And the attention of this public, at least for a moment, was mildly speaking, rivetted by a move of the protocol made by the state top. President Franjo Tudjman had not congratulated Bozanic on his nomination, but before inauguration of the new archbishop - he invited Kuharic, Bozanic and three new bishops (of the army, Varazdin and Pozega), and Papal Nuncio Giulio Eiunaudi - to have dinner with him. This invitation arrived at the seat of the Croatian Catholic Church in the morning of that day (29 September) - with instructions not to inform the public about it. We are convinced that the previous sentence should end with an exclamation or a question mark, and that at least twice as many od these marks should be put by the fact that the bishops responded to such sudden invitation, as if they were members of some socialist alliance invited by the president of the communist central committee for some kind of "differentiation".

In front of TV cameras, at the dinner which was intended to convey the message about unity of the state and church authorities, Tudjman thanked cardinal Kuharic with formal words, and welcomed Bozanic and the other new bishops, but it was obviously most important for him to get support in respect to "unfounded pressure, and strange lack of understanding for our situation and wishes, our road to freedom and democracy" (he obviously had the pressure of the USA in mind). Msgr. Bozanic responded in principled terms. "We are aware of expectations of many people of good will", he said, inviting all well-meaning people to patiently democratically coordinate stands and carry out the agreed tasks - stressing that this would be the best answer to pressure from abroad.

MIRKO VID MLAKAR