Search


Advanced Search
Nenad Bach - Editor in Chief

Sponsored Ads
 »  Home  »  Religion  »  (E) Pope ends 100th foreign trip with prayer in coastal Croatia
(E) Pope ends 100th foreign trip with prayer in coastal Croatia
By Nenad N. Bach | Published  06/12/2003 | Religion | Unrated
(E) Pope ends 100th foreign trip with prayer in coastal Croatia

 

Pope ends 100th foreign trip with prayer 

in coastal Croatia

Mon Jun 9,

ZADAR, Croatia (AFP) - Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II wound up 
a taxing five-day visit to Croatia, his 100th foreign trip, with an 
open-air prayer in the coastal town of Zadar. 


After the ceremony, Croatian President Stipe Mesic and Prime 
Minister Ivica Racan saw the pontiff off and the pope arrived back 
in Rome later in the afternoon. 
Bells on Zadar churches rang as the pope arrived at the town 
airport, where some 110,000 believers gathered to attend the prayer 
at a square in the old town overlooking the sea. 
Pilgrims had poured into the town since dawn, carrying little flags 
saying "Viva papa." Many arrived in boats to hear the pope from the 
dockside. 
"I was extremely happy during the past few days as I was watching 
the Holy Father who, although a weak old man, is full of spiritual 
strenght," said Terezija Pervan, a nun who arrived from nearby 
island of Dugi Otok. 
"All the messages the pope conveyed in Croatia were important, but I 
would stress the one referring to reconciliation and forgiveness -- 
to forgive and to ask to be forgiven," she added. 
Earlier in the visit, the pope called for reconciliation following 
the 1991-95 Croatian war of independence from the former Yugoslavia, 
which saw many atrocities. 
The historical town of Zadar was shelled by Serb forces, who 
occupied surrounding area during the war. 
Under the entrance into the walled old city, a yellow banner reading 
"Welcome Holy Father" was put just beside a giant photo of fugitive 
retired general Ante Gotovina wanted by the UN war crimes court. 
Below the photo, which was on the path that the pope was due to pass 
in his popemobile, it read in big letters "Ante Gotovina -- hero, 
not a war criminal." 
Gotovina, who led the city defence during the war with the Serb 
forces is a popular figure here and was proclaimed an honorary 
citizen of Zadar. 
The UN court indicted him of war crimes against ethnic Serbs during 
a 1995 military operation that enabled Croatia to retake a 
rebel-Serbs held region. 
The 83-year-old pontiff, who appeared to be in good form despite 
very high temperatures during his visit, also backed Croatia's bid 
to join the European Union (news - web sites) 
Upon his arrival Thurdsay he voiced hope that "this aspiration will 
be happily realized." 
Zagreb hopes to become a member of the EU in 2007, following the 
accession next year of 10 mostly ex-Communist countries. 
"I thanked the pope for having spoken in favour of Croatia's 
accession to the European Union," Croatia's Prime Minister Ivica 
Racan told journalists following a private audience Sunday. 
The pope also stressed the importance of traditional family in a 
Sunday Pentecost mass in the coastal town of Rijeka, which served as 
a base during his third visit to predominantly Catholic country. 

Copyright © 2003 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. 

How would you rate the quality of this article?

Verification:
Enter the security code shown below:
imgRegenerate Image


Add comment
Article Options
Croatian Constellation



Popular Articles
  1. Dr. Andrija Puharich: parapsychologist, medical researcher, and inventor
  2. (E) Croatian Book Club-Mike Celizic
  3. Europe 2007: Zagreb the Continent's new star
  4. (E) 100 Years Old Hotel Therapia reopens in Crikvenica
  5. Nenad Bach singing without his hat in 1978 in Croatia's capital Zagreb
No popular articles found.