BENEDICT XVI: NEWS, PAPAL TEXTS, PHOTOS AND COMMENTARY

Pope meets with Croatian president
for talks on EU integration
and Croatia's Christian identity


ROME, Oct. 9 (AP) - The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI has discussed Croatia's Christian roots and its negotiations to enter the European Union during a meeting with the Balkan country's president.



Benedict met with Croatian President Ivo Josipovic on Saturday and had what the Vatican described a "fruitful exchange of opinions" on regional issues.

Croatia is predominantly Roman Catholic and a Vatican statement said the two leaders talked about "the importance of it maintaining its specific Christian identity."

The statement said they also discussed the status of Catholic Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where the largest part of the population is Muslim.

Croatia is currently negotiating to enter the European Union, possibly in 2012.


APCOM adds a speculative point to its report on the above...

And will the Pope
visit Croatia next year?
Translated from



...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!"...

P.S. AFP has picked up the APCOM story but without crediting Apcom.