Croatian Leaders Issue Easter Messages Amid Global Tensions

The news in Croatian

1. predsjednik  (m.)
   osoba koja je na čelu države, organizacije ili udruge i predstavlja je ↩︎
2. premijer  (m.)
   šef vlade u nekoj državi ↩︎
3. nesigurnost  (f.)
   stanje u kojem nema osjećaja sigurnosti, stabilnosti ili povjerenja ↩︎
4. dijalog  (m.)
   razgovor dviju ili više strana radi razmjene mišljenja ili rješavanja problema ↩︎
5. solidarnost  (f.)
   međusobna podrška i osjećaj zajedništva s drugima, posebno u teškim situacijama ↩︎
6. vjernik  (m.)
   osobe koje vjeruju u Boga ili slijede neku religiju ↩︎
7. predsjednik  (m.)
   osoba koja vodi neku državu, organizaciju ili skupinu ljudi ↩︎
8. premijer  (m.)
   šef ili predsjednik vlade neke države ↩︎
9. Sabor  (m.)
   hrvatski državni parlament, skupština izabranih predstavnika građana ↩︎
10. nesigurnost  (f.)
    stanje u kojem nema sigurnosti, kada se ne zna što će se dogoditi i ljudi se mogu osjećati ugroženo ↩︎
11. solidarnost  (f.)
    držanje ljudi koji se međusobno podupiru i pomažu, osobito u teškim situacijama ↩︎
12. vjernik  (m.)
    osobe koje vjeruju u Boga ili neku religiju i žive prema toj vjeri ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What main themes do the Croatian leaders talk about in their Easter messages during these difficult times?

Question 2: What do the leaders ask people to do for others in their Easter messages?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
predsjednik  (m.)	president
premijer  (m.)	prime minister
nesigurnost  (f.)	insecurity
dijalog  (m.)	dialogue
solidarnost  (f.)	solidarity
vjernik  (m.)	believers

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Top officials of the Republic of Croatia have used their Easter messages to highlight concerns about the current global situation, while calling for peace, solidarity and care for vulnerable people. Their statements were addressed primarily to Catholic believers and others who celebrate Easter according to the Gregorian calendar, both in Croatia and among the Croatian diaspora.

Croatia’s president Zoran Milanović described Easter as arriving at a time when it seems that “darkness” has fallen over much of the world. He said that the world people were familiar with until recently appears to be rapidly destabilising, marked by insecurity, wars and uncertainty. According to his message, many citizens fear an even darker future because rational dialogue is giving way to force and threats.

In this context, President Milanović argued that it is now especially important to promote faith in the victory of light over darkness and to support hopes for a new beginning, ideas that he linked to long-standing Christian beliefs about Easter. He stressed that advocating peace instead of violence, forgiveness instead of revenge, and hope instead of fear should not be the task of religious leaders alone, but also the responsibility of elected secular officials.

Milanović stated that the primary duty of political leaders is to care for the peace and security of the people who have entrusted them with power. He said he was convinced that Croatians want a peaceful and safe life for themselves and their children, and a Croatia that will not again face war and large-scale suffering. For that reason, he called on both the state and individual citizens to seek understanding and dialogue in their relations with others, presenting these as the only way out of today’s darkness.

The president also said that Croatia cannot remain silent about the suffering of people affected by wars around the world, nor indifferent to the injustices and difficulties faced by many in Croatian society. However, he noted that it is not enough merely to speak about such problems; concern for other people, he said, must be demonstrated through concrete actions that give hope and encouragement. When care for human beings prevails, he added, life and humanity will triumph – values he linked both to Christian faith and to the secular principles that Croatian society aims to achieve.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, in a separate Easter greeting, also referred to the current international climate. He said that Croatia is facing a series of global and security challenges that influence the everyday lives of its citizens. In response, he pledged that the government would continue to work for world peace and democratic values, while at the same time protecting social cohesion and the living standards of the population and the national economy.

Plenković emphasised that Easter encourages people to do good, build mutual respect and understanding, and strengthen solidarity, especially towards those who are most vulnerable in society. He also expressed particular gratitude to members of the Armed Forces, the police, medical staff and emergency services, many of whom spend the holidays away from their families while working to protect the country’s security and health. The prime minister invited citizens to celebrate Easter in an atmosphere of peace, unity and joy with their families and loved ones.

While the president focused strongly on the moral responsibility of leaders and citizens in a world marked by conflict, and the prime minister highlighted the role of the state and its institutions in managing global risks, both leaders presented Easter as a time to reflect on peace, human dignity and mutual support. Their messages shared a common call for dialogue and for practical help to those in need, although they framed these goals from somewhat different angles – one more ethical and symbolic, the other more institutional and policy-based.

The Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Gordan Jandroković, also issued an Easter address, concentrating on the religious meaning of the feast and its implications for daily life. He referred to Easter as the moment when Christ overcomes death, describing this as the central mystery of Christian faith and a key source of meaning for believers. He presented Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross as a powerful example of unconditional love and self-giving for others.

Jandroković said that this example calls believers to recognise the importance of service, solidarity and readiness to make personal sacrifices. He urged people not to forget, especially during the holidays, those who are in need of attention, vulnerable, lonely or discouraged. According to him, celebrating Easter brings both joy and responsibility: it should inspire individuals to contribute more actively to the common good, to be a connecting force in society and to live out genuine Christian values in everyday relationships.

In the Speaker’s view, Easter is a lasting source of strength and inspiration, particularly valuable in times of growing challenges and fears. He expressed hope that the Easter message of Christian hope would fill homes across Croatia with blessing, peace and steadfast faith, and encourage people to support one another with encouragement and sincere help.

Taken together, the Easter greetings from Croatia’s president, prime minister and parliamentary speaker show the country’s political leadership linking a major Christian holiday to current social and international concerns. For observers outside Croatia, these messages offer insight into how public figures in a largely Roman Catholic country use religious occasions to speak about war, security, social solidarity and moral responsibility, while addressing both believers and the wider public.

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