TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF CARDINAL SEPER

VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father received today in the Paul VI Hall 1,000 participants in the international symposium promoted by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the death of Croatian Cardinal Franjo Seper, former prefect of the same dicastery.

In his discourse in Croatian and Italian, the Pope emphasized Cardinal Seper's role "in the life of the Church of Zagabria, in particular from 1954 to 1968, in a very delicate period for relations between Church and State. ... His ministry also had a profoundly ecumenical character. He was actively committed to the promotion of the unity of Christians."

Cardinal Seper's activity during these years," he continued, "was not limited to the care of his diocese and of the Church in his country. He participated in the preparations of Vatican Council II."

John Paul II noted that the deceased cardinal was "rooted in the local Church and at the same time had a sense of belonging to the universal Church."

"With his example," he concluded, "Cardinal Seper continues to be for the faithful an invitation to trust pastors, listening to their teaching and welcoming with generous readiness the pastoral directives given by them in harmony with the head of the episcopal college, the successor of Peter."

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