BRIEF REVIEW OF POPE'S THREE-DAY VISIT TO CROATIA

( Editorial: --> 4877 ) ZAGREB, Oct 2 (Hina) - Pope John Paul II will arrive in Zagreb on Friday afternoon for a three-day visit to Croatia, during which he will beatify the late Croatian Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac in the Marija Bistrica sanctuary and celebrate mass marking the 1700th anniversary of Split. This will be the Pope's second visit to Croatia. The Holy Father will land at the Zagreb airport at 5.30pm, where aboard the plane he will be welcomed by the Archbishop of Zagreb Josip Bozanic, papal nuncio to Croatia Giulio Einaudi, and the head of the Croatian State Protocol. The Bells in churches throughout Croatia will ring at the moment the Pope will symbolically kiss Croatian soil. He will then be welcomed by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. The faithful will be able to greet the Holy Father en route from the airport to the Zagreb Cathedral in front of which John Paul II will make an address. He will then bow to the remains of Cardinal Stepinac in the Cathedral. On Saturday, the second day of his visit, the Pope will beatify Cardinal Stepinac in the Marija Bistrica sanctuary near Zagreb. In the afternoon he will officially visit President Tudjman. On Saturday evening the Pope will receive about 20 scientists, cultural figures and media representatives at his official residence in Croatia, the papal nunciature in Zagreb's Ksaver district. The Holy Father is also expected to meet representatives of other religions in Croatia. On the third and last day of his visit to Croatia, the Pope will visit the southern Croatian port of Split, where he will celebrate mass marking the city's 1700th anniversary. Mayor Ivica Skaric will present the Pope with the keys to the city On Our Lady's Island in Solin the Holy Father will meet the young, catechists and members of church movements. Prior to his departure for Rome around 7pm on Sunday a farewell festivity is expected to take place at the Split airport. (hina) ha 021149 MET oct 98