RIJEKA, June 5 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said after a meeting with pope John Paul II in Rijeka's seminary Thursday night that this was his fourth meeting with the pope, third since he became president. "I am impressed
with the strength the Holy Father is showing and this visit is a great privilege for Croatia," he said.
RIJEKA, June 5 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said after
a meeting with pope John Paul II in Rijeka's seminary Thursday night
that this was his fourth meeting with the pope, third since he
became president. "I am impressed with the strength the Holy Father
is showing and this visit is a great privilege for Croatia," he
said. #L#
The talks focused on European issues, the situation in this region,
especially Croatia. Accents were placed on the Holy Father's
messages urging forgiveness, love and tolerance, Mesic said,
adding that he hoped that the messages would meet with great
response in Croatia.
"We need that because we were once the victims of a brutal
aggression which left its marks", he said.
Asked to comment on the message the pope gave upon his arrival in
Croatia, in which he supported the country's path to the EU, Mesic
said that he was glad to hear the Holy Father mentioning the EU.
Entry into the EU is a millennium endeavour of all European
countries, he said, adding that it facilitated the opening up of
borders to all peoples who would live in the integrity of their
cultural wholeness.
For Croats this is especially important because not all Croats live
just in Croatia, Mesic said. He added that the issue of Europe's
integration would definitely eliminate war as a political means.
"I believe that the Holy Father's messages will leave a great mark
in the Croatian public. It is particularly significant that the
pope had forwarded them in Croatian", said Mesic.
Rijeka Archbishop Ivan Devcic said the first day of the pope's third
pastoral visit to Croatia had passed excellently. The dignitary
particularly thanked citizens for preparing a magnificent welcome
to the Holy Father and showing him great appreciation by turning out
in such numbers in Rijeka streets.
The Holy Father directed us towards the European Union and
supported Croatia's aspirations to end up in the union of European
peoples and to create its future together with other peoples,
Devcic said.
(hina) lml sb