ROME, Dec 18 (Hina) - A Croatian ceremony was held on Wednesday during a general audience with Pope John Paul II, who thanked Croatia for a Christmas tree which adorns St. Peter's Square and a Christmas tree with traditional Croatian
embellishments, which adorns the Hall of Paul IV, where general audiences are held.
ROME, Dec 18 (Hina) - A Croatian ceremony was held on Wednesday
during a general audience with Pope John Paul II, who thanked
Croatia for a Christmas tree which adorns St. Peter's Square and a
Christmas tree with traditional Croatian embellishments, which
adorns the Hall of Paul IV, where general audiences are held. #L#
The audience was attended by the president of the Croatian Bishops'
Conference, Josip Bozanic, Rijeka archbishop Ivan Devcic and
others, as well as a representative of a Croatian state delegation,
Vice-Premier Goran Granic, and around 1,000 Croatian pilgrims who
came to Rome for the occasion.
The Pope welcomed the pilgrims in Croatian. "I am grateful to
Croatia for the Christmas tree, presented as a sign of deep ties
between the Croat people and Peter's See, which have lasted for 14
centuries," the Pope said, bestowing a blessing on the gathered and
the entire Croat people.
(hina) rml sb