Visit of the Holy Father John Paul II. Croatia in 1994

U radu autorica na temelju objavljenih izvora – recentne znanstvene literature te onodobne periodike analizira pastoralni pohod Svetog Oca Ivana Pavla II. Hrvatskoj 10. i 11. rujna 1994. godine. Kao ključna osoba za međunarodno priznanje u siječnju 1992. godine te najveća moralna podrška Hrvatskoj, stupa na hrvatsko tlo kada je dio hrvatskog teritorija još uvijek pod srpskom okupacijom. Samim time, Papa je ukazao još jednom ustrajnost, zabrinutost i težnje za prekid sukoba u Hrvatskoj te na cjelokupnom balkanskom području. Prvi posjet Svetog Oca nosi iznimnu povijesnu važnost te postaje „mjesto pamćenja“ hrvatskog naroda. Tada je papa Ivan Pavao II. simbolizirao zaštitnika napadnutih naroda na Balkanu. Znakovitost prisutnosti Svetog Oca se utisnula u srca hodočasnika, državnog i crkvenog vrha te svjetske javnosti. Poruke mira upućene u Zagrebu 1994. godine su bile u skladu s mirotvornim pristupom Svete Stolice. Naglasak rada je stavljen na Svetog Oca Ivana Pavla II., hodočasnika mira i pravde te zagovaratelja prestanka svih oblika agresije, koji je svojim porukama duboko utkan u kolektivnu svijest hrvatskog naroda i njegovu povijest.In this graduate thesis the author, on the basis of published sources - recent scientific literature and periodicals of the time, analyses the pastoral visit of the Holy Father John Paul II to Croatia on 10 and 11 September 1994. Being a key figure for international recognition in January 1992 and the greatest moral support to Croatia, he arrived on Croatian soil when a part of the Croatian territory was still under Serbian occupation. By this act alone, the Pope once again pointed out his persistence, concern and aspirations to end the conflict in Croatia and in the entirety of Balkans. The first visit of the Holy Father carries exceptional historical importance and later becomes a "site of memory" for the Croatian people. Back then Pope John Paul II. was seen as a protector for the peoples in the Balkans which were under foreign aggression. Significance of his presence left an imprint in the hearts of pilgrims, state and church leaders and the world public. The messages of peace sent from Zagreb in 1994 stood in line with the peace-making approach of the Holy See. The emphasis of this thesis is placed on the Holy Father John Paul II, a pilgrim of peace and justice, and an advocate of cessation of all forms of aggression, who is by way of his messages deeply woven into the collective consciousness of the Croatian people and its history