Zagreb, (IKA) – A meeting was held on Monday, May 30, in order to prepare for the program of the encounter between Pope Benedict XVI and persons from public and religious life planned for Saturday, June 4, at 6 p.m. at the Croatian National Theater in Zagreb, announced papa.hr. The chairman of the meeting, Dr. Željko Tanjić, said that the central part of this encounter will be the Pope’s speech because it will be a pastoral encounter.
The program at the Croatian National Theater on the occasion of the Pope’s encounter with persons from public and religious life has been prepared by the director Krešimir Dolenčić, the scenic designer Dinka Jeričević and the flower arranger Saša Šekoranja. Details of the interior scenic design are also known. On the decorated stage in the background will be a copy of a ceremonial curtain painted by Vlaho Bukovac, Croatian Revival, and a processional cross from the cathedral of St. Lawrence in Trogir.
The guests are expected to arrive on Saturday, June 4, to meet with the Pope at the Croatian National Theater from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The President of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Ivo Josipović; the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Luka Bebić; and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Jadranka Kosor, are expected to arrive at 5:50 p.m.
During the arrival of more than 700 persons from public and religious life, a preliminary program has been prepared by the dramatic artists Joško Ševo and Renata Sabljak, who will read excerpts from famous works of Croatian literature. In addition, the harpist Branka Janjanin Magdalenić will perform Four Pieces for Harp by the Croatian composer Tomislav Uhlik.
After the Pope arrives at the theater, vocalists from the folklore ensemble LADO will perform, followed by speeches by the president of the Council for Culture of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Želimir Puljić of Zadar, and a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Dr. Niko Zurak. Then Borivoj Martinić Jerčić and Aleksandar Milošev of the Zagreb soloists will perform Duet for Violin and Viola in D Major, Romanza, by the 18th century Dubrovnik composer Ivan Mane Jarnović.
The central part of the program will be an address by Pope Benedict XVI to the representatives of the civil society, world of politics, science, culture and business; the diplomatic corps and religious representatives. The Pope will speak in the Italian language and Msgr. Juraj Kolarić, Prebendary of the Zagreb cathedral, professor emeritus of the Catholic Faculty of Theology of the University of Zagreb and President of the Council for Culture of the Archdiocese of Zagreb, will translate into Croatian.
The Pope is expected to depart at 7:15 p.m. for Ban Josip Jelačić Square, where he will participate in a Prayer Vigil with young people.