Dear Brothers and Sisters in Faith!
We wish to inform you about everything that we consider important for the encounter with the Holy Father, which we joyfully anticipate, so that it will truly be an event of communion in Christ and the blessed beginning of a new and vigorous Christian life.
We encourage and invite all the faithful who wish to participate in the celebrations with the Holy Father to register with their priests, in order to obtain free tickets for entering the celebration areas. Priests will receive a sufficient number of tickets so that they will be able to distribute them to everyone who registers to participate in the celebration of the Mass at the Hippodrome, even those who apply on the last day.

REGISTRATION OF YOUNG PERSONS FOR THE PRAYER VIGIL AT THE BAN JOSIP JELAČIĆ SQUARE ON SATURDAY, JUNE 4

Many young people have already registered for this celebration, so that Ban Jelačić Square will be full of young believers. Those who have applied in the regular way will receive tickets for admission to Ban Jelačić Square and scarves for the meeting from their pastors or representatives. The tickets are free.
Since there are still a substantial number of those who want to participate, they should feel free to come to the square in front of the Zagreb cathedral. A video wall and sound system will be set up there, so that all the faithful can participate in everything, just like those at Ban Jelačić Square. After the Vigil, the Holy Father will ride in his Popemobile through the Kaptol section of the city so that those assembled there will be able to see him up close.
Tickets are not necessary for participating in the Vigil on the square in front of the cathedral. All who want to pray with the Holy Father should feel free to come there. Access to the square in front of the cathedral is possible from Kaptol Street and Stara Vlaška Street.
During the encounter with the young people, there will be several programs. Young people who arrive earlier in Zagreb will be able to assemble from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Zrinski Square (Zrinjevac), around the pavilion, where there will be singing and music. Entry to Ban Jelačić Square will be possible starting at 1 p.m.
The official program of the National Croatian Catholic Youth Encounter will begin at 4:30 p.m. The Holy Father will arrive at approximately 7:30 p.m. The young believers will pray with the Pope, who will address them with words of encouragement, faith and inspiration.
Parking for the buses bringing the young people to the celebration will be organized at the Zagreb Fair. From there, the young people will go by foot to Ban Jelačić Square through the underground passage at the railway station. We request that they all follow the instructions of their guides and the security guards stationed along the way.
Following the Vigil at Ban Jelačić Square, they will return the same way to the Zagreb Fair. Overnight accommodations will be provided in the pavilions of the Zagreb Fair and those who spend the night there will receive a sandwich and water. We recommend that everyone goes to bed as early as possible in order to be rested for the Mass with the Holy Father the following day.

REGISTRATION BY THE FAITHFUL FOR THE MASS AT THE HIPPODROME ON SUNDAY, JUNE 5

We invite the faithful to register with their priests in order to obtain free tickets. Tickets are required so that the faithful will be evenly distributed among the designated fields at the Hippodrome. Regardless of the means of transportation used, everyone should have a ticket with him. We again ask everyone to register as soon as possible but even those who come last will not be refused. All may come to the Mass with the Pope. At the entrance to the premises, they will receive a liturgical guide from a monitor, which will enable them to follow the Mass.
Areas will be reserved for the disabled and nuns in the fields near the altar at the Hippodrome.
Therefore, we request disabled individuals to register in person or through their association at the Secretariat of the Committee, in order for them to receive the tickets designated for them. Disabled persons coming by car can be driven by their escorts to their designated entrance. From that point, they will be driven to the place assigned to them before the altar. It will be possible to enter the Hippodrome starting at midnight. At around 3 a.m., the Preliminary Program will begin, filled with prayers, songs and meditative texts.
We recommend that everyone come as early as possible, so that large crowds will not be created at the entrances before the Mass. Moreover, those who arrive earlier will be closer to the altar! It would be good if all the faithful were in their places by 8 a.m. Tickets will be color-coded and marked with the number of the field. All the designated corridors for passage must be free during the Mass. Instructions from the monitors, who will be wearing visible identification, should be obeyed in all things.

WHAT MAY AND MAY NOT BE BROUGHT INTO THE AREA WHERE THE MASS IS BEING CELEBRATED?

We recommend that the faithful bring a head covering in the event of bright sun and a raincoat in the event of rain, preferably a disposable one. Food that will not spoil quickly may be brought. Water may be carried in transparent plastic bottles. Those who have to take medication regularly must bring it with them. Parish communities may have banners with the names of their parishes or groups, to facilitate orientation after the celebration of the Mass. During the Mass, all banners must be lowered, so as not to obstruct the view. It is permitted to carry flags of parishes, associations and movements. Flag bearers will be sent to the edge of the liturgical area, so that the flags do not obstruct the view of others. It is permitted to bring a mat for sitting, folding chairs and the like. We recommend that the faithful only bring what is absolutely necessary, so as not to slow up inspection and entry.
It is not permitted to bring alcohol, metal objects, weapons, glass bottles, umbrellas or anything else that could cause injury. Such items will be confiscated by police at the entrances to the protected area. With the exception of the banners of parishes or groups, other banners may not be brought or displayed during the celebration of the Mass. The meeting at the Hippodrome is Eucharistic and there is no place for advertising. Persons under the influence of alcohol will not be permitted to enter.

REGISTRATION OF PRIESTS

Accreditations and tickets will be required for each celebration. Therefore, we unconditionally request all priests to bring their accreditations and tickets with them. In the Archdiocese of Zagreb, accreditations and tickets will be distributed via the deaconry offices. Deacons will be informed by telephone about when they can pick up the tickets and distribute them to the priests in the deaconry, who will then distribute them to their parishioners. Tickets for the faithful from all other (arch)dioceses will be delivered via the Secretariat of the Croatian Conference of Bishops to the (arch)diocesan ordinariates.
Priests should bring albs with them for the Mass. At the entrance to the area for concelebration, they will receive a white stole and liturgical guide. In the event of rain, it would be good to bring a raincoat and in the event of bright sunshine, they should bring a white cap for protection.
Five hundred vessels for Holy Communion have been prepared, which will be appropriately distributed in the chapels on the premises. We ask priests to be available for this holy service and to obey the instructions of the monitors. The priests who distribute Holy Communion will be the last to receive it and will do so in the chapels where the Blessed Sacrament is kept. Nuns do not have to be accredited at the Hippodrome; it is enough for them to register in order to receive their tickets and go to their designated places.

REGISTRATION FOR VESPERS IN THE CATHEDRAL

Only priests, nuns, seminarians, divinity students and religious candidates are invited to pray Vespers in the cathedral. All who wish to participate in Vespers must be accredited and obtain tickets. The data for accreditation are the same as for the Hippodrome. It is necessary to be in the cathedral no later than 4 p.m. At the cathedral entrance, those attending will receive a liturgical guide for participation in prayer.
Diocesan priests and seminarians should be dressed in cassocks, and religious in the habits of their orders. Divinity students, seminaries and candidates will receive preference in entering the cathedral. Other believers may also participate in the praying of Vespers because a video wall and sound system will be set up in front of the cathedral so that everyone will be able to follow the prayer and address of the Holy Father. Entrance to the area before the cathedral does not require a ticket.

TRANSPORTATION
Transportation is being organized by each parish, deaconry or (arch)diocese for itself. In the vicinity of the Hippodrome, over 2,200 parking places for buses will be available. After the priests report how many buses are coming, their tickets will be delivered as well as directions to the parking places, and how to go from there to the Hippodrome. The buses will remain in their parking places. In order to help the faithful find them, the name of the parish should be visibly displayed. Parking for personal vehicles bringing disabled persons will be available in the eastern part of the Zagreb Fair, next to the INA building, and for buses on Gavran Street.
Whoever comes to Zagreb by car should count on traffic being severely restricted, especially in the area around the Hippodrome. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account that the parking places will be far away. If a deaconry organizes arrival by train, this should be personally arranged with a representative of the Croatian Railways, which means at what time and from where the train is departing, the place where the pilgrims have to disembark from the train, and where they will board the train again. For this occasion, the Croatian Railways will significantly lower their fares, just enough to cover their costs. We recommend that the faithful from Zaprešić to Dugo Selo use the municipal railway as much as possible.
The Committee of the Archdiocese of Zagreb is not organizing the transportation of the faithful. It is the obligation of the pastor. All parking places are about a half an hour’s walk from the Hippodrome, which does not represent a major problem.
We invite as many of the faithful of the city of Zagreb as possible to come by foot. This particularly refers to New Zagreb, as well as the vicinity of the Hippodrome. ZET buses and trolleys will be running in the morning and afternoon hours on the weekday rush hour schedule.
SERVICES PROVIDED AT THE CELEBRATION VENUES
At both Ban Jelačić Square and the Hippodrome, health care will be provided by a team of physicians and nurses. Field hospitals will be set up next to the celebration venues and nurses, including nuns, will be deployed among the faithful. They will be wearing visible identification. In case of need, they will be happy to help you.
On the tickets received by the faithful, places for emergency treatment, lavatories and other facilities will be indicated. Approximately 1,000 volunteer monitors will provide their assistance in order for the celebrations to be successful and we earnestly ask you to respect their instructions.

WELCOMING THE HOLY FATHER ON THE STREETS OF THE CITY OF ZAGREB

After the police announce through which streets and at what times the Holy Father will pass in his Popemobile, we invite the faithful to stand along the streets of our beautiful Zagreb, to welcome our dear guest with their presence and in this way thank him for coming and for his encouragement.
Dear brother priests, divinity students and seminarians, religious, religious candidates and the dear faithful!
The Peter of our day, Pope Benedict XVI, has crossed his threshold and is coming to us to meet us in our Croatian homeland.
Let us cross our thresholds, the thresholds of our comfortable homes, the thresholds of convenience, and come to meet him. This is the most solemn Mass that we can experience in our homeland, and nothing can compare to it in importance. We pray that the visit by the Holy Father will be happy and blessed, that new hope and pride will be awakened, and that Church and national unity in Christ will be achieved.
On behalf of the Committee of the Archdiocese of Zagreb, I salute you all with a Christian greeting: Praise be to Jesus and Mary.
Chairman of the Committee of the Archdiocese of Zagreb for Preparations for the Visit by the Holy Father Benedict XVI to Croatia,
Msgr. Mijo Gorski
Auxiliary Bishop of Zagreb