ZAGREB, October 12, 2018 - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković received on Friday the Holy See Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, and they talked, among other things, about the canonisation of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, the government said in a press release.
Plenković and Gallagher said Croatia-Vatican relations were very good, as was the government's commitment to the implementation of the Vatican agreements. Plenković said Croatia supported the pope's activities, notably appreciating his messages of hope, peace and Christian solidarity to the most endangered states and parts of the world.
Discussing the canonisation of Stepinac, Gallagher informed Plenković about the course of the process launched by the Church.
Discussing the situation in Southeast Europe, the two officials underlined the importance of Croatia's role in supporting the countries in their region on their European journey.
Commenting on last week's elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Plenković said Croatia cared about the equality of the constituent peoples and all other citizens in BiH, notably Croats as the smallest ethnic group.
Talking about migration, Plenković underlined Croatia's contribution to the prevention of illegal migration and to the protection of the longest non-Schengen border within the European Union. In doing so, it is also important to treat the people threatened by war humanely and responsibly, he added.
Foreign and European Affairs Minister Marija Pejčinović Burić also met with Gallagher, and during their talks they confirmed the excellent bilateral relations based on firm and lasting ties between Croatia and the Holy See, the ministry said in a press release.
Archbishop Gallagher is visiting Croatia at the invitation of the Croatian Conference of Bishops on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the ratification of the Croatia-Vatican agreement on economic issues.
"During the meeting, excellent bilateral relations that are based on firm and lasting ties between the Republic of Croatia and the Holy See were confirmed once again. The two sides underlined mutual commitment to further advancing bilateral relations and cooperation on issues of mutual interest before international forums," the ministry said.
The two officials also discussed the need to preserve European prospects for all countries in southeast Europe, with particular emphasis on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the status of the Croat people living there. There was also talk of the process of canonisation of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac.
Minister Pejčinović Burić and Archbishop Gallagher commended plans to hold the Days of the Croatian Glagolitic Script in the Vatican in November 2018. A plaque with a Glagolitic inscription will be placed in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome on November 17 under the auspices of the Croatian Parliament and the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU).
