Aboard the papal plane, Jun 4, 2011 / 09:49 am
Pope Benedict XVI has given his backing to Croatia’s bid to join the European Union but says he understands a fear of an “overly strong centralized bureaucracy.”
“I think it is logical, just and necessary that it (Croatia) enters,” he told journalists on the plane from Rome to the Croatian capital Zagreb on June 4 to begin a two-day visit.
The Pope said he likes to refer to Croatia as “central Europe” rather than “the Balkans” because it reminds everybody that “Croatia is a nation at the heart of Europe, its history and its culture.” This is a point he reiterated upon his arrival to Zagreb Airport.
“From its earliest days, your nation has formed part of Europe, and has contributed, in its unique way, to the spiritual and moral values that for centuries have shaped the daily lives and the personal and national identity of Europe’s sons and daughters.”