Zagreb - Members of the Croatian Parliament and Government present in the chamber on Wednesday observed a minute’s silence in tribute to Pope Francis, who, as noted by the Speaker, "was and remains a powerful advocate for all who suffer in any way, and a passionate champion of peace."
"The news of Pope Francis’s passing on Easter Monday caught us all particularly off guard and deeply moved us," said Speaker Gordan Jandroković, who, on behalf of Parliament and personally, expressed heartfelt condolences to the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.
He also extended his condolences to all close collaborators of the Holy Father, as well as to the Apostolic Nuncio to Croatia, Monsignor Giorgio Lingua.
Jandroković emphasised that Pope Francis, in a world burdened by various crises - from the pandemic to the devastation of war and their numerous consequences - "was and remains a strong promoter of care for all who suffer in any way, and a fervent advocate for peace."
He pointed out that the reactions of world leaders and public figures to the Pope’s passing confirm that "he was widely recognised as a man of peace and dialogue, a promoter of mutual understanding, and a true leader in the care for the vulnerable, the rejected, and the marginalised."
His clear call remains: to be true 'pilgrims of peace'
"Though Pope Francis has departed this world, we believers are left with his clear and unequivocal call – that, in this Holy Year of Jubilee, we be true ‘pilgrims of hope’," said Jandroković, adding that the Holy Father was deeply aware of how much the world today needs this message of living hope.
"He truly lived that message in action," he said, expressing his belief that "the world has many reasons to be grateful for the pontificate of the Holy Father, Pope Francis."
He noted that from his early days as a priest in his native Argentina through all 12 years of his pontificate, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was and remained a tireless messenger of the Gospel.
"He proclaimed the message of Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life with the same fervour from St Peter’s Square in the Vatican as on his many journeys around the world, where the faithful always received him with immense joy. Through numerous gestures, both symbolic and concrete, he constantly reminded us of the very essence of faith and the timeless messages of Jesus," he said.
Solidarity, cooperation, and responsibility
Jandroković also highlighted that Pope Francis, as the supreme head of the Catholic Church, led it through an especially challenging period – both for the world and for the Church itself.
"In doing so, he always sought to make the Church better and closer to the faithful, in line with his vision, emphasising solidarity, cooperation, and responsibility as the three pillars of the Church’s social doctrine," said Jandroković.
He recalled how Pope Francis had been struggling with illness in recent months and how, to the surprise of many, he appeared on Easter Sunday from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to wish a Happy Easter to his Christian brothers and sisters, after which he descended among the faithful in the popemobile.
"Sadly, it turned out - for the final time. For already the following morning, God called the Holy Father Francis to Himself. That final descent among the faithful remains a powerful final testament to his complete devotion to his people, with whom he always stood and with whom he wished to remain, to the very end," said Jandroković.
"It is precisely because of such powerful Easter Day images that the news of Pope Francis’s passing the day before yesterday caught us all particularly off guard and deeply affected us," he concluded.