CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST AT ZNJAN

SPLIT, Oct 4 (Hina) - Holy Mass celebrating the 1700 th Jubilee of the City of Split which is being led by Pope John Paul II began at about 11 am on Sunday at the Split beach at Znjan. Over half a milion faithful gathered to welcome the Holy Father and to celebrate the Eucharist with him. Numerous Croatian officials were also in attendance led by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. As a procession of 47 bishops and cardinals arrived at the altar - in the shape of a ship preceded the Pope's arrival, the multitude hailed Papa, Papa, greeting their high guest! Before Holy Mass commenced the Pope's host, Split-Makarska Archbishop Juric thanked his guest for coming to the Church in Split-Makarska which awaited him with an open heart. Msgr. Ante Juric said that he had eagerly awaited for this day to arrive when together with the Holy Father we could celebrate Holy Eucharist Sacrifice on this soil: which is holy, tear soaked and drenched with the blood of martyrs from the times of St. Domnius. "In their long histories neither Split nor Salonae or Solin have had this kind of good fortune, that is, to receive as their dearest guest, the Roman bishop and Peter's successor", said Archbishop Juric. He added that the successors of Peter had supported, consoled and helped us during all of the difficult centuries. "We have especially felt this in your person during the course of the recent war and in this post war period. That is how we experience this, your pastoral visit: for us it is a sign of support and protection", he said. Thanking the Holy Father for the honour of raising to the altar the symbol of the nation's faith to the Church, Alojzije Stepinac, Archbishop Juric said that it was with justifiable hope that in the near future other candidates from our nation would be raised to the honour of the altar. Amongst the massive crowd of over half a million faithful huge numbers of Croats from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Boka Kotorska (Montenegro) and from Germany are partaking in today's ceremony. The Mass will be celebrated by about 600 priests and several hundred religious men. A choir of over 2,000 will also participate in the event. Amongst Church dignitaries from other religions present today were Episcopate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Jovan Pavlovic as well as Vladimir Deutch, the head of the Evangelical Church in Croatia. (Hina) sp 041153 MET oct 98