POPE JOHN PAUL II TO VISIT MARIJA BISTRICA

( Editorial: --> 5229 ) ZAGREB, Oct 3 (Hina) - On Saturday, the second day of his pastoral and state visit to Croatia, Pope John Paul II will head the beatification of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac at the Celebration of the Eucharist in the shrine of Marija Bistrica. Later in the afternoon, the Pope will visit the President of the Republic Franjo Tudjman. In the evening, the Pope will receive a delegation of scientists, cultural workers and media representatives at the official papal residency in Croatia - the Apostolic Nuntiary in Zagreb. At the Celebration of the Eucharist in Marija Bistrica, which starts at 9.45am, Zagreb Archbishop Josip Bozanic and Prelate Juraj Batelja will approach the Pope and ask him to say the beatification formula for the Servant of God Alojzije Stepinac. Cardinal Stepinac was born on 8 May, 1898 in Brezaric near Krasic. He died in Krasic on 10 February, 1960. Stepinac was ordained as a priest in Rome in 1930. In 1934 Pope Pius XI designated him as Archbishop Coadjutor of Zagreb with the right of succession. In 1937 Stepinac was nominated Archbishop of Zagreb by a papal decree and in 1954 Pope Pius XII nominated him a Cardinal. In 1946 Cardinal Stepinac was sentenced by the Communist regime to 16 years' imprisonment and hard labour. He served for five years in the Lepoglava "Penal and Correctional Institution" and spent the last nine years of his life in house arrest in Krasic. He was buried in the Zagreb Cathedral. Cardinal Stepinac has earned to be celebrated and beatified for his deeds and support for the rights of man and nation, for protecting the poor and those deprived of their rights, as well as for his opposition to Nazism and Bolshevism. (hina) rml 030058 MET oct 98