DUBROVNIK: POPE JOHN PAUL II BEATIFIES MARIJA PETKOVIC

DUBROVNIK, June 6 (Hina) - Celebrating the first Eucharist on the occasion of his third pastoral visit to Croatia, Pope John Paul II beatified Mary of Jesus Crucified Petkovic in Dubrovnik on Friday. #L# In his sermon during the celebration of the Eucharist in the city's port of Gruz, the Holy Father recalled that Mary of Jesus Crucified Petkovic (born in 1892 in Blato, island of Korcula, died in 1966 in Rome) had founded the Community of Daughters of Mercy, which she "governed wisely for four decades, opening it to mission work in Latin American countries". Speaking about the life of the first Croatian woman to be beatified, the Pope called on Croatian women to "continue looking at everybody with the eyes of the heart, be helpful and be with them with the kind of sensitivity that is inherent to a mother's feelings". "Your presence in the family, society and church community is vital," he said. The Holy Father said he was happy to visit "the old and glorious city of Dubrovnik, which prides itself on its history and heritage of freedom, justice and promotion of the general well-being". Attending today's ceremony at Gruz were some 60,000 pilgrims, who arrived aboard 500 buses from all over Croatia, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Montenegro and Vojvodina, as well as from Paraguay, Argentina, Peru and Chile. Greeting them, the Pope thanked for their welcome, saying his wish to visit Dubrovnik had come true. At the beginning of the Eucharist, Dubrovnik bishop Zelimir Puljic bid the Pope welcome "in the city filled with memories of historic ties with the Holy See". Present at the mass were also Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Bosnia's Archbishop Cardinal Vinko Puljic, Cologne Cardinal Joakim Meisner, bishops from Dubrovnik and other Croatian cities, representatives of other religious communities in Croatia, and state officials, headed by President Stjepan Mesic. Also attending was Roger Cortina Alvarado, a Peruvian lieutenant who is believed to have survived a 1988 shipwreck together with his sailors because he invoked God's servant Marija Petkovic. In the afternoon, accompanied by the tolling of church bells, the Pope toured in his Popemobile Stradun, the main street in the city's old part, decorated with flags on the occasion. He was greeted by numerous citizens who chanted songs "Croatia Cheers Thank You" and "To the Holy Father". In front of the Church of St. Blaise, where he was welcomed by 100 first communicants, a symbol of his 100th apostolic travel outside Italy, the Pope released doves, symbols of peace. Around 6 pm, the Holy Father headed for Dubrovnik airport, from where he flew to Krk airport, where he landed around 8 pm. At 8.35 pm he arrived at the Rijeka seminary, where he is staying during his five-day visit to Croatia. He was welcomed upon his return by several thousand believers and residents of Rijeka. Today's visit to Dubrovnik is the first visit of a pope to the southern Croatian city of rich history and culture. (hina) rml sb