RIJEKA'S DELTA SQUARE RIJEKA, June 8 (Hina) - Accompanied by Rijeka Archbishop Ivan Devcic and his personal secretary Stanislaw Dziwicz, around 9.30 a.m. on Sunday Pope John Paul II arrived at Rijeka's Delta square, where he will
celebrate the Eucharist dedicated to family, on the occasion of Whitsuntide, the Church's birthday.
RIJEKA, June 8 (Hina) - Accompanied by Rijeka Archbishop Ivan
Devcic and his personal secretary Stanislaw Dziwicz, around 9.30
a.m. on Sunday Pope John Paul II arrived at Rijeka's Delta square,
where he will celebrate the Eucharist dedicated to family, on the
occasion of Whitsuntide, the Church's birthday. #L#
Croatian bishops decided that the slogan of the Pope's visit should
be "Family - the Path of the Church and the People", to warn about
the importance of family, as well as problems it faces in today's
society in Croatia.
The pope was welcomed in the square by numerous believers who sang
his favourite song "Christ on the Strand", waving Vatican and
Croatian flags.
On the way from the city's seminary, where he has been staying
during his visit to Croatia, to Delta square, the Holy Father was
greeted by numerous citizens who gathered in the streets of Rijeka.
The pope greeted them back and blessed them.
The arrival of the Holy Father and his entourage at the site where
Mass is to be held was accompanied by the tolling of church bells.
Today's ceremony will be enhanced by a 400-member choir of church
singers from Rijeka parishes, Mrkoplje and Senj.
At noon the pope will say the Angelus, which he usually recites to
the world and people on Sundays.
The service will also be attended by Catholic members of national
minorities from Rijeka metropolis.
The second reading and a prayer of invocation will be delivered in
Italian, and a prayer of invocation will be delivered in the Slovene
language.
The pope is expected to meet Croatian bishops and cardinals at 1.30
p.m. and Prime Minister Ivica Racan at 5.30 p.m.
The Holy Father will then drive through Rijeka in his popemobile and
at 6 p.m. visit the shrine of Our Lady of Trsat, where he will
consecrate the foundation stones of a future pastoral centre and a
Mediterranean village.
Around 7 p.m. the Pontiff will return to his residence, the Rijeka
seminary.
Today's Eucharist is held on Whitsuntide, the descent of the Holy
Ghost and the founding of the Church, the biggest Catholic holiday
after Christmas and Easter.
(hina) rml