Minister Grlić Radman meets with Croatian Franciscans in Jerusalem

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Tuesday visited the holy places in Jerusalem and met with Croatian Franciscans serving in the Custody of the Holy Land.

During the visit to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, Grlić Radman was welcomed by Siniša Srebrenović, Discrete of the Custody of the Holy Land, first sacristan at the basilica and member of the Croatian Franciscan Province of Saints Cyril and Methodius. During the minister's visit to Jerusalem last September, Br. Srebrenović informed him about the Croatian projects of erecting the statue of St. Jerome at the Abbey of the Dormition and the statue of St. Nikola Tavelić at the St. Francis' Ad Coenaculum Monastery. The construction of a Croatian chapel in the Shepherd's Field is also in the works. Grlić Radman expressed satisfaction with the progress of Croatian projects, agreeing with the importance of building a chapel dedicated to Croatian saints and blessed to benefit pilgrims and Christians who live there.

The minister also visited the Monastery of Saint Saviour, the centre of the Custody of the Holy Land, where he was welcomed by Dobromir Jasztal, Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land, and Marcello Cichinelli, Guardian of the Monastery, who presented the Custody and its pastoral care for Christians in this part of the world. They also highlighted the Franciscans' care for the holy places as well as the challenges they faced.

Grlić Radman thanked for the cordial welcome, praising the Franciscans for looking after pilgrims and holy places for centuries. He underscored the important role of Croatian Franciscans in the history of the Custody of the Holy Land, notably St Jerome and St Nicholas Tavelić, whose statues are soon to be erected on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.