ZAGREB, June 8 (Hina) - The foreign press on Sunday continues its intensive coverage of Pope John Paul II's third pastoral visit to Croatia, stressing the Pope's calls for forgiveness and the healing of war wounds during yesterday's
visit to the eastern city of Osijek.
ZAGREB, June 8 (Hina) - The foreign press on Sunday continues its
intensive coverage of Pope John Paul II's third pastoral visit to
Croatia, stressing the Pope's calls for forgiveness and the healing
of war wounds during yesterday's visit to the eastern city of
Osijek. #L#
"As expected, during his visit to Slavonia - where many bloody
crimes occurred in the early 1990's - the Pope called for
reconciliation. His message carries much weight because it was said
in the diocese which also covers Vukovar, the symbol of the
suffering of Croats," reports Slovenia's leading "Delo" daily,
which also reports about the Pope's meeting with representatives of
other churches and religious communities after the Eucharist.
Resuming their regular coverage of the Pope's visit, the Bosnian
press on Sunday report that the Holy Father used his visit to Osijek
to call for reconciliation and interreligious dialogue.
Sarajevo's "Dnevni avaz" daily reports that the Pope pointed to the
importance of personal courage in the accomplishment of
reconciliation, solidarity and social justice.
Another Sarajevo daily, "Oslobodjenje", notes the Pope's visit to
Osijek was marked by his insistence on ecumenism and interreligious
dialogue.
The paper reports that the Pope's efforts aimed at establishing
sincere dialogue among religions was visible also during his
meeting with representatives of all religious communities,
including the head of the Islamic community in Croatia, Sevko
Omerbasic.
The Belgrade press carried agency reports about alleged death
threats directed against the Pope.
In a report from Osijek, "Politika" daily says that a delegation of
the Serb Orthodox Church was among the 220,000 believers who
welcomed the Pontiff.
Politika and "Vecernje novosti" also quote statements by Croatian
President Stjepan Mesic. Vecernje novosti highlights Mesic's
statement that "living in tolerance is necessary and cooperation is
a must". Mesic is also quoted as saying that "the people of today's
Serbia and its leadership want to see their country in the European
Union" and that "it is important for this pro-European option to win
and put an end to efforts to look for happiness and satisfaction
outside the borders of Serbia".
Politika highlights Mesic's statement that current Croatian-
Serbian relations are "as expected", given the fact that
Milosevic's Serbia carried out a brutal act of aggression against
Croatia, the consequences of which are still felt. The paper quotes
the Croatian president as saying that both countries share the same
goal - admission to the European Union - and that it is important for
people in Serbia to "stop believing the expansion of Serbia's
borders is the way to achieve progress".
(hina) rml sb