President Milanović Presents Charter of the Republic of Croatia to Caritas Croatia on its 30th Anniversary
The President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović presented the Charter of the Republic of Croatia to Caritas Croatia on the 30th anniversary of its operations, for its exceptional humanitarian contributions in collecting and providing aid to the needy, as well as coordinating numerous programmes and projects of national importance.
“This Charter is a small and symbolic recognition of your work and the indelible mark you have left on Croatia’s humane image in the last thirty years, and prior to that as well, because the work of Caritas existed earlier,” President Milanović said at a ceremony that was held in the Office of the President on the occasion of the presentation of the Charter of the Republic of Croatia to Caritas Croatia.
“In today’s world – which is worse than it was two years ago, and much worse than it was ten years ago, and which we do not know what it will look like in one, two or three years – organizations like yours and people like you made a difference,” President Milanović said as he presented the Charter of the Republic of Croatia to the Bishop of Varaždin and President of Caritas Croatia, Msgr. Bože Radoš. “Thank you with all my heart, keep it up! I know about your standing and reputation in Croatian society and among the people, things would not be the same without you,” President Milanović concluded.
Caritas Croatia is a pastoral-charitable institution of the Croatian Bishops’ Conference and the umbrella organization of a network consisting of 16 Caritas diocesan organizations and the Caritas of the Military Ordinariate of Croatia, including more than 1,400 parishes, in the majority of which the parish Caritas are active thanks to the efforts of volunteers. The primary task of the national Caritas is to coordinate programmes and projects of national importance and organize efforts to collect and distribute aid in emergency situations, such as earthquakes, floods, fires, and armed conflicts.
The Bishop of Varaždin and President of Caritas Croatia, Msgr. Bože Radoš, thanked President Milanović for the awarded Charter of the Republic of Croatia, emphasizing that for Caritas Croatia, the person in need is at the centre of its mission.
“We are carried by the commandment of love, which is a sort of motto of the Caritas mission. This Charter turns the attention to those in need, both to the needy in our society and throughout the world, where Caritas Croatia provides assistance. As I accept the Charter, I am aware that it does not belong only to us, the people who actively work in Caritas. Caritas is one big family made up primarily of little people with a big heart, who help those who are in a more difficult situation than we are. These people are our faithful, but also many people of good will in Croatia and in our diaspora,” said Msgr. Radoš, who particularly thanked Croatian companies and national institutions for regularly participating in Caritas programmes.
“We strive to be sensitive to the needs of all people. We especially express our closeness to the people and Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with which we cooperate very well, but we cooperate very well with everyone in our environment, and we want to be partners and help,” the Bishop of Varaždin and President of Caritas Croatia concluded in his remarks.
In addition to the Bishop of Varaždin and President of Caritas Croatia, Msgr. Bože Radoš, the Charter of the Republic of Croatia presentation ceremony was attended by Apostolic Nuncio H. E. Archbishop Giorgio Lingua, Director of Caritas Croatia Fra Tomislav Glavnik, and employees of Caritas Croatia Aranka Rudić Bilandžija, Nikolina Bagarić, Marijana Bosnar, Ana Buljat, Marina Garić, Drago Laštro, Filip Naglić, and Boris Peterin.
President Milanović was accompanied by the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defense Ivica Olujić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for National Security Dragan Lozančić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Foreign and European Policy Neven Pelicarić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić, and Assistant Adviser to the President of the Republic for the Economy Martina Ciglević.
FOTO: Ured predsjednika Republike Hrvatske / Tomislav Bušljeta