Sanader Has Private Audience with Pope

Prime Minister Ivo Sanader met Pope Benedict XVI in Vatikan at a private audience for ten minutes.

One of the main subjects discussed was the Croatian application for membership in the EU. They talked about Croatia’s relations with Vatican and the situation in the region. The Prime Minister asked the Pope to visit Croatia replied that, if God willing, he would.

The Croatian government delegation consisted Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and his wife, vice-premier Jadranka Kosor, Minister Bozo Biskupic, and ambassador Emilio Marin, joined by 75 Croatian Homeland War veterans and children of killed Homeland War soldiers.

The last one with John Paul II

Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader was one of the last politicians who visited Pope John Paul II before his death. They talked briefly in February 2, 2005, shortly after John Paul II was released from the Gemelli Hospital.

Croatia had a strong support for its membership in the EU by the Pope John Paul and Vatican. Sanader said that the new Pope, in audience, had only words of support for Croatia a deep belief that Croatia was a part of the EU without doubt.

 The Bible, a Candelabrum and Books

The spokesman of the Government, Ratko Macek, said to Javno:

‘The prime minister had a private audience with the Holly Father. The meeting lasted for about ten minutes. They talked about Croatian membership in the EU, relationship with the Holy See and the situation in the region. The prime minister in person invited the Pope to Croatia. The prime minister introduced his delegation to the Holly Father and presented him with a silver Bible, a candelabrum and books.’