ZAGREB, June 9 (Hina) - Pope John Paul II on Monday ended his exhausting visit to Croatia, his 100th pastoral trip abroad, in Zadar, saying to Croats, who are still recovering from war wounds, that their courage and faith will lead
them to a better future, US news agency AP said in a report on the last day of the visit.
ZAGREB, June 9 (Hina) - Pope John Paul II on Monday ended his
exhausting visit to Croatia, his 100th pastoral trip abroad, in
Zadar, saying to Croats, who are still recovering from war wounds,
that their courage and faith will lead them to a better future, US
news agency AP said in a report on the last day of the visit. #L#
AP also quotes the Pope as thanking the beloved Croatian people for
welcoming him with open arms and hearts.
Entering Zadar, the motorcade which included the Popemobile passed
by a huge poster of General Ante Gotovina, a runaway war crimes
suspect, reports the agency. AP says local officials took down all
posters of the general ahead of the Pope's visit, but that they did
not dare remove the biggest one, worried it might provoke war
veterans and nationalists.
French news agency AFP reports that a welcome banner for the Pope,
put up at the entrance to the city, was placed either by accident or
intentionally below the huge Gotovina poster.
Reuters highlights the Pope's support to Croatia's bids to enter
the EU. Croatia will be the only European Catholic country left
outside the EU after next year's expansion round, says the agency.
It also states that the visit to Croatia was the Pope's longest
after last summer's tour of Canada, Guatemala and Mexico, which
lasted 11 days.
(hina) rml sb