Zagreb, (IKA) – On May 25, the Subcommittee for Young Peole of the Secretariat for Preparations for the Visit by the Holy Father to Croatia published detailed instructions for young pilgrims who will be arriving from all parts of Croatia for a Prayer Vigil with Pope Benedict XVI on the first Saturday in June. The organizers recommend that the buses carrying the young people to Zagreb on Saturday, June 4, should arrive no later than 2 p.m. Two parking lots will be provided. For the buses bringing the young people who will remain for the Sunday celebration of the Mass and sleep in the pavilions of the Zagreb Fair, parking will be provided at the Zagreb Fair, accessible from the entrance West III (Zapad III) on Radoslav Cimmerman Street. There will also be parking provided in eastern lot in front of the Zagreb Fair (behind the INA building), intended for the buses carrying young persons who will only be staying for the Saturday Vigil and depart no later than 11 p.m. on Saturday.
All the buses must display a prominent sign with the name of the group, which they will receive these days from their (arch)diocesan representative, according to which the buses will be able to enter the parking lots and the young people will be directed to their overnight accommodations.
After the young people get off the bus, monitors in the parking lot will direct them toward the pavilions where they will be sleeping. They will then be led by their group leaders and directed in an organized manner from the Zagreb Fair to the city. The young people will walk from the Fair to Ban Josip Jelačić Square through the underground passage at the railway station. The organizers ask the young people to follow the instructions of the monitors.
A special youth festival, enriched by song and dance, will begin in Zrinski Park at 11 a.m., featuring the “Twelve Apostles” and “Croatian Saints and Blessed.” The young people will also be able to send Pope Benedict XVI messages and drawings.
Ban Josip Jelačić Square will open at 1 p.m. Only young persons holding tickets marked with the entrances Ilica, Gajeva, Praška, Jurišićeva/Petrinjka or Pod zidom/Harmica will be permitted to enter. After 6 p.m., it will no longer be possible to enter Ban Josip Jelačić Square.
The square will be divided into three fields (red, purple and yellow) and the young people will be directed toward them. Once the young people enter the area of the square, they will not be able to leave. It will also not be possible to move from one field to another.
The Preliminary Program will begin at 4:30 p.m., filled with prayer and a festive atmosphere. The Archdiocesan Youth Choir will sing with a band, and a chamber orchestra has been formed especially for this occasion. Dancing will be choreographed by the Salesian Youth. Participants in the program will include young people from Slavonia, Split and Krk; the Community Cenacolo, seminarians, religious and young people in folk costumes.
Access to the area in front of the cathedral, where anyone who does not have a ticket is free to enter, will be possible via Kaptol Street and Stara Vlaška Street.
Pope Benedict XVI is expected to arrive at Ban Josip Jelačić Square at approximately 7:30 p.m. After he leaves the square at around 9 p.m., the young people will retrace their steps and return to their accommodations at the Zagreb Fair. The program at the square will continue until 10 p.m. with singing and dancing.
All the young people who will be sleeping at the Zagreb Fair must return as a group. The young people will enter at the East II (Istok II) entrance, where they will have to show their tickets for the Sunday Mass and must be together with their group and group leader. Supper will be waiting for them in the pavilions where are staying and will be served from 9 p.m. until midnight. The lights in the pavilions will be turned off at approximately 1 a.m., with wake-up scheduled for 5 a.m. Upon leaving the pavilion, each person will receive a packed breakfast.
In the morning hours, the young people together with their leaders will arrive at the Hippodrome, where they will participate in the celebration of the Eucharist with the Pope. The young people must enter the Hippodrome by 8 a.m. because it will not be possible to enter later.
Some young people will be arriving in Zagreb by train and will be met at the Main Railway Station in Zagreb.
The organizers have announced that it will not be permitted to bring alcohol, metal objects, weapons, glass bottles, umbrellas or anything else that could cause injury to Ban Josip Jelačić Square. Such objects will by confiscated by the police at the entrance to the protected area. It will be permitted to bring food that does not spoil quickly and water in transparent plastic bottles. It is recommended that the young people bring only what is absolutely necessary, so as not to delay inspection and entry. They should also bring head coverings in the event of bright sunshine or raincoats in the event of rain. The organizers remind the young people that they must bring their tickets for the Vigil on Saturday and the Mass on Sunday, their identification and health insurance cards, layered clothing, a sleeping bag and mat, items for personal hygiene and water in transparent plastic bottles. The young people will receive two meals, consisting of a sandwich, apple and water, one on Saturday night and the other on Sunday morning.