POPE JOHN PAUL II ARRIVES IN CROATIA (2) - SPEECHES

( Editorial: --> 5116 ) ZAGREB, Oct 2 (Hina) - On the occasion of welcoming Pope John Paul II at Zagreb's Pleso airport on Friday afternoon, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman began his welcoming speech by emphasising that the Croatian people welcomed him with an open heart. They were also greeting the Pontiff with fresh memories of his first visit to Croatia in 1994, grateful for his understanding and support and hoping that his messages during this state and pastoral visit would again strengthen their faith in the irreplaceable Christian vision for a future in a contemporary world, he said. "With your second arrival in Croatia in four years you are demonstrating the particular concern of the Holy See for the Croatian people who have for centuries remained true to the principles of the Catholic faith and the laws of the Church," President Tudjman said, standing on a stage decorated with white and yellow flowers, the colours of the Vatican flag. He also stressed that this Pope's visit bears a particular meaning to the Croatian Church, as well as the entire Croatian people and the Croatian State, because of the beatification of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, martyr of the Church and one of the greatest Croatian ecclesiastical dignitaries. On this occasion, the President said, the Holy Father will honour the unique celebration of the 1700th anniversary of Split, of the Solin church and of the Split Archdiocese which as the oldest on Croatian soil, played a special role in the conversion of the Croats to Christianity, in the establishment of the Church and generally in the life of the ancient Croatian State. Pope John Paul II thanked the Croatian President for his welcome and said that this apostolic visit was, in a sense, a sequel to the September 1994 visit. I am happy that I have been able to accept the various invitations which came to me: from the bishops of the country, from the President of the Republic, from members of the Government and the Croatian National Parliament, and from ordinary citizens as well, the Holy Father stressed, warmly greeting everyone who came to welcome him. Emphasising that he came today to confirm his brothers and sisters in the faith, giving thanks to the Lord for the Church's two thousand years in this region and for the rich history of Croatian Catholics, the Pope said that it was fundamentally important that the Croatian people remained faithful to their Christian roots, while at the same time they remain open to the demands of the present which, if it has its difficult problems, offers as well consoling reasons for hope. "I begin my visit to the dear land of Croatia with words of love and hope: may the visit contribute to reconstruction on the basis of the enduring values of a country which is an integral part of Europe," the Pope said in his greeting speech. Ending his speech, on his way to the Popemobile, the Pope blessed the children wearing traditional costumes from the Zagreb region, Velika Gorica and Sisak. Then with the greetings of all the people present he proceeded down Velikogoricka road towards Zagreb. The Pope then addressed the people, particularly youth, gathered in front of the Zagreb Cathedral. Then he prayed at Cardinal Stepinac's tomb. Tomorrow the Holy Father will beatify Cardinal Stepinac at a eucharistic ceremony in Marija Bistrica, a Marian shrine just north of Zagreb, and on Sunday he will visit the coastal city of Split which celebrates its 1700th anniversary. He will lead a eucharistic ceremony on Znjan (on the Split shoreline) and will meet youth representatives in Solin, at the shrine of Our Lady of the Island. (Hina) is/mbr 022021 MET oct 98