His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed Tuesday at the Patriarchal Residence the Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Davor Ivo Stier, who is currently paying an official visit to Romania.
His Beatitude greeted Mr Stier and stressed the importance of dialogue between the various Christian denominations existing in Croatia to promote solidarity and a good coexistence for the integration of Romanians in Croatian society.
In this context, the Romanian Patriarch mentioned the intention of the Romanian Patriarchate to make pilgrimages in Croatia, through the Basilica Travel Agency. This will contribute to a better understanding of religious life in the country by the Romanian Orthodox believers, including through Radio Trinitas, Trinitas TV, Basilica News Agency and the Lumina Newspaper of the Romanian Patriarchate.
Mr Davor Ivo Stier addressed thanks for the reception and pointed out how important it is to manifest inter-Christian solidarity at local, regional and global level, making a special reference to the extremely difficult situation Christians in the Middle East are going through. The Croatian Deputy Prime Minister considers religion an important force in promoting cooperation and dialogue as drivers of peace in society.
His Beatitude reiterated that in the current European context, marked by a profound process of secularisation, it is mandatory to defend and to promote firmly by a common witness Christian values that formed the basis of European civilization and culture.
At the end of the meeting held on 14 March 2017, the Romanian Patriarch addressed thanks to the Croatian state authorities for supporting His Excellency Romanian Ambassador to Zagreb, Mr. Constantin Mihail Grigorie, to identify a church building for the Romanian Orthodox community in Croatia with the consent of the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić. In this regard, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said that in the near future the Romanian Patriarchate will appoint a priest for the Romanian Orthodox Community in Croatia.
Photo credit: Basilica.ro
