Professional paper
The support of the Holy Father John Paul II to the Croats on their path to independence
Ivan Šestak
; Faculty of Philosophy and Religious Studies, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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* Corresponding author.
Abstract
John Paul II is called among Croats "our Pope," bearing in mind his closeness and the understanding he showed them, especially in the difficult and crucial moments of their recent history. During his pontificate, Vatican diplomacy played a crucial role in elucidating the background of the aggression against Croatia, resulting in the fact that the Holy See was the first among the states to recognize the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Croatia. Behind this brave step is the fact that John Paul II had an excellent knowledge of Croatian national and church history, which results from his association with Croats even before being appointed as Peter's successor. This article consists of several chapters that deal chronologically with the influence of John Paul II on the Croats and his impact on their current history, not failing to show his respect for the entirety of their history, from their arrival on the territory of the former Roman Empire to their independence. The messages of John Paul II to the Croats are particularly important immediately before the democratic changes and during the aggression against Croatia, which shed light on his later attitude towards the Croats. Namely, the connections of Holy Pope John Paul II and Croats are by no means exhausted with Croatian independence. On the contrary, they intensified afterward, which was particularly visible during his as many as three pastoral visits to Croatia.
Keywords
Croats; John Paul II; independence; support
Hrčak ID:
322316
URI
Publication date:
11.11.2024.
Visits: 150 *