VATICAN, Dec 16 (Hina) - Pope John Paul II on Monday received Croatian President Stjepan Mesic after Croatia presented the him with this year's Christmas tree.
VATICAN, Dec 16 (Hina) - Pope John Paul II on Monday received
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic after Croatia presented the him
with this year's Christmas tree. #L#
During the 15-minute audience, Mesic presented the Pope with a gold
cross made especially for him and a silver gingerbread heart, as
well as two Gerhard Ledic books, one dedicated to the Virgin Mary
and one to other women.
The Pope also received the President's wife and niece, and the other
guests from the Croatian delegation, including the president of the
government's commission for relations with religious communities,
Goran Granic, and Agriculture Minister Bozidar Pankretic. John
Paul II presented each with a rosary.
The Pope took the opportunity to announce his third visit to Croatia
in May or June next year. "Thank you once again for the Christmas
tree you brought me. See you in Dubrovnik, Rijeka, Zadar, Djakovo,
or Osijek," he said.
The Croatian delegation also held talks with the Holy See's state
secretary, cardinal Angelo Sodano.
(hina) ha