SOLIN AWAITS FOR POPE

( Editorial: --> 5466 ) SPLIT, Oct 4 (Hina) - The arrival of the faitful to the Southern Croatian port of Split, where the Pope John Paul II will celebrate Sunday morning Mass on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of Split, went according to plan and without difficulties. The faithfull filled more than half of the plateau in Split's district of Znjan by 6.30am. While wating for the Pope, the believers and priests held vigil, prayed and sang hymns. Several dozen ships arrived in the Znjan bay, including two replicas of ancient Croatian ships, from which the faithful will attend Mass. The seats in front of the altar at Znjan were reserved for disabled persons. The altar is in a shape of a boat decorated with white and yellow flowers (the colors of the Vatican). Above is a big crucifix and flags of Croatia, the Vatican and the Croatian President. Split Mayor Ivan Skaric, who visited Znjan just before midnight, expressed his satisfaction with the successfuly completed preparations. "Split is very proud of the Pope's visit. It will stand for an immeasurable spiritual and material contribution to this city", Skaric asserted. Znjan is today supplied with all facilities, including toilets and stands with non-alcoholic drinks, sandwichs and souvenirs. The St. Domnius Cathedral and the Peristil, one of the oldest sections of the Diocletian Palace in Split, have been decorated with flowers in Vatican colors, while Croatian and Vatican flags have been hoisted on top of the Cathedral several days ago. Solin, a town which the Pope will visit later in the day, is also grandly illumined and decorated with flags. The town's authorities prepared, among other things, free lunch packages for the faithful. Seventy buses with some 10,000 faithful from Herzegbosna Canton, in southern Bosnia-Herzegovina, on Saturday evening left to greet the Pope in Split and Solin. The faithful are coming from Livno, Glamoc, Bosansko Grahovo, Drvar, Tomislav Grad, and Kupres. The dean of the Livno deanery fiar Andjelko Barun said that the Pope's visit to Croatia had caused great interest among Catholics in Herzegbosnia Canton. (hina) it/ha 041143 MET oct 98