On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, the Croatian National Shrine of Our Lady of Bistrica and the Pilgrimage Clinic were visited by Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, Prefect of the Supreme Court of the Apostolic Signatura, and Professor Dr. Pietro Mortini, Ambassador of the Order of Malta in the Republic of Croatia. The visit took place on the eve of the Feast of St. John the Baptist, and after a meeting with the Archbishop of Zagreb, Mons. Dražen Kutleš. The aforementioned guests were accompanied by other prominent members of the Order of Malta in the Republic of Croatia. They were welcomed at the Shrine by the rector of the Shrine and the parish priest of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Marija Bistrica, Rev. Tomica Šestak, and the parish vicar, Rev. Vedran Jakić. They briefly introduced the guests to details from the history of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Bistrica. Cardinal Mamberti prayed briefly in the Basilica of Our Lady of Bistrica and, as a pilgrim, walked around the altar singing the song “Majko Božja Bistrica”, and after the prayer, he visited and blessed the Pilgrim Volunteer Ambulance, which was largely equipped thanks to donations from the Knights of Malta in the Republic of Croatia.

He was welcomed at the clinic by the volunteer doctor coordinator, doc. dr. sc. Sanja Kovačić, who briefly described the importance of the clinic for pilgrims. This year, the clinic became part of the health system as the Tourist Clinic of the Krapina-Zagorje County Health Center. Despite this, volunteers continue to work at the clinic. According to the volunteer coordinator, doc. dr. sc. Sanja Kovačić, their mission is to obtain the title Pilgrimage Volunteer Clinic, which the health system in the Republic of Croatia does not currently recognize. “We are proud to be the only and first volunteer tourist clinic in Croatia. We currently have 58 active volunteers (doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, masters of pharmacy, medical students and non-medical staff) who are on duty during the pilgrimage days, mainly on weekends and holidays,” said Dr. Kovačić. The visit of Cardinal Mamberti and the guests ended with a joint lunch at the parish hall, after which the delegation headed to Zagreb. Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura in the Roman Curia, is a member of the Council of the Second Department of the Secretariat of State, Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; Causes of Saints; Evangelization and Legislative Texts.

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