CCMS's President, Ana Planinc-Peraica, and delegation met Msgr. Janus Błachowiak

Monsignor Janus Błachowiak, the First Secretary to His Excellency Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Croatia, received on 16 October 2017 the members of the Organizing Committee of the 25th World Congress of Catholic Physicians /FIAMC/ entitled "Sancity of Life and Medical Profession from Humanae Vitae to Laudato Si", Professor Ana Planinc-Peraica, MD, PhD, Professor Jasenka Markeljević, MD, PhD, Maja Perajica, MD, PhD and Danijela Rupčić, MD, PhD, at the Apostolic Nunciature premises

Expressing gratitude to His Excellency Monsignor Guiseppe Pinto for an invitation to the meeting with the First Secretary, Msgr. Janus Błachowiak, we handed to the Apostolic Nuncio and Secretary the CCMS's Monography issued on the 25th anniversary of Societies’ inauguration and Preliminary Congress Information. The 25th FIAMC Jubilee Congress will be held in the year of the 50thAnniversary of the Humanae Vitae of Pope Paul VI and the Honorary President of the Congress will be the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić. The Congress will be also held under the high auspices of the President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović.

Besides the other scientific, political and religious institutions whose formal confirmations are still expected, the Congress will also be held under the patronage of the Croatian Medical Association, the Croatian Chamber of Physicians, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia and the Medical School of the University of Zagreb. During the meeting, the Secretary has been informed on request for Pope Francis' Blessing as well as on the FIAMC Board’s and CCMS’ intention to send an official invitation to Pope Francis taking into account the diplomatic protocol of the Vatican, the Republic of Croatia, the Zagreb Archdiocese, the Office of the President the Republic of Croatia and the Government.

The meeting reviewed the Preliminary Congress Program, underlined the importance of participation of young physicians and students of medicine and discussed activities of the FIAMC’s President, John Lee, MD, members of Scientific Committee and CCMS in connection with the organization of the Congress.

Emphasizing the importance of recognizing the identity of Catholic doctors in the context of ethical relativism and transhumanism in the world and promotion of ethical principles in medicine based on Hippocrates oath tradition and Catholic church doctrine, the significance of Pope Francis' Blessing was stressed and it was emphasized how his visit would impact the conscience on those who advocate the ethical relativism and would be also in conformity with the irreplaceable role of the bishop in peace, Msgr. Valentin Pozaić, the spiritual assistant of CCMS. List of high officials of the Holy See to be invited to the Congress was also given to the First Secretary, Msgr. Janus Błachowiak. He was informed, as well, that formal invitations will be send by Official Organizing Commitee through the Protocol of the Zagreb Apostolic Nunciature.

Professor Jasenka Markeljević, MD, PhD