Bozanic said that this year was marked by the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Croatia in June. He noted that the Holy Father had shown that he highly appreciated the sensitivity of the Church and its commitment to the family, quoting the Pontiff as saying that "in today's Europe, the nations with solid Christian traditions have a special responsibility to defend and promote the role of the family based on marriage, which remains a decisive force in education and in social life."

Recalling the Pope's calls for prayer "that gives strength and security," the archbishop said that prayer may give spiritual security. "Prayer and strong trust in God may make every situation a new start and give the strength to find a solution even in the most difficult of circumstances," Bozanic said.