Pope Benedict XVI to visit Croatia
in the first half of 2011, officials say
ZAGREB, Croatia, Oct. 29 (AP) — Croatian church and government officials say Pope Benedict XVI will visit the Roman Catholic bastion in the Balkans for the first time next year.
Zagreb archbishop Cardinal Josip Bozanic said Friday the Pope has accepted the country's invitation and will come "most probably in the first half of the next year."
Bozanic says the Pontiff is set to stay in the capital of Zagreb for a weekend.
President Ivo Josipovic {shown above on his visit to the Vatican last Oct. 9), says the visit will boost the country's bid to join the European Union.
Eight in 10 Croats are Catholic and the church still has a strong influence. Some recent surveys show, however, that the number of people practicing the faith is falling.
Benedict's predecessor, Pope John Paul II, visited Croatia three times.
When Josipovic was in Rome three weeks ago, APCOM reported this:
...There was no mention in the Holy See note, of a possible trip next year by Benedict XVI to Croatia.
But the question was raised to the Pope by a newsman who was present during the photo opportunity this morning, and the Pope replied: "Probably!"...
Croatia would become the Pope's second known foreign trip in 2011. He will be attending World Youth Day in Mardid in August next year.
has since confirmed the story on all of its language services today:
Pope Benedict XVI will visit Croatia in 2011. The Pope will travel to Zagreb in the first half of next year and will stop to pray at the tomb of Blessed Luigi Stepinac.
The Papal visit was announced after the October 29 meeting of Archbishop Srakić Marin, President of the Croatian Bishops' Conference and His Eminence Cardinal Josip Bozanic, Archbishop of Zagreb with His Excellency Mr. Ivo Josipovic, President of the Republic of Croatia, the Office of the President
.
Pope John Paul, visited Croatia three times since it proclaimed independence from communist Yugoslavia in 1991. More than 90 percent of Croatia's 4.4 million people are Catholics.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 29/10/2010 17:40]