ZADAR, June 9 (Hina) - During his five-day pastoral visit to Croatia between June 5-9, Pope John Paul II held speeches, sermons and addressed the faithful, pilgrims, state officials and bishops in Croatian.
ZADAR, June 9 (Hina) - During his five-day pastoral visit to Croatia
between June 5-9, Pope John Paul II held speeches, sermons and
addressed the faithful, pilgrims, state officials and bishops in
Croatian. #L#
This is probably one of the reasons why the faithful and pilgrims
feel such a close bond with the pope, which was fully evident in each
city the pope visited during his third pastoral journey of Croatia.
The faithful carefully listened to the pope's messages,
enthusiastically cheering "John Paul" and "Pope, we love you".
Speaking in Croatian, the Holy Father celebrated mass and delivered
a sermon in Dubrovnik, where he beatified Mary of Jesus Crucified
Petkovic, as well as in Osijek, where he delivered an ecumenical
homily, and in Rijeka, where he celebrated Whit Sunday and
dedicated the service to the family.
The pope also delivered three speeches in Croatian -- upon
arriving, during the Liturgy of the Word on the last day of the
visit, and just prior to departure, when he said goodbye to
Croatia.
Apart from liturgical celebrations, the pontiff granted a private
audience to the Croatian president and the prime minister, and paid
a private visit to the Djakovo cathedral and the shrine of Our Lady
of Trsat.
The pope's third pastoral visit to Croatia and the 100th apostolic
journey outside Italy ended Monday.
The 83-year old pontiff is soon to go on his 101st apostolic trip and
his second visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina, where he will beatify Ivan
Merz in Banja Luka (Bosnian Serb entity) on June 22.
(hina) it/ha sb