Split, October 4, 1998 (IKA) — After a magnificent encounter with young people in Solin, that concluded in the beautiful evening atmosphere with the hymn “Zdravo Djevo, svih milosti puna” [Hail, Virgin, Full of Grace], which the Holy Father, himself, sang together with the young people, Pope John Paul II departed at 7:15 p.m. via the old Kaštela road toward the Resnik Airport in Split. Thousands of adoring inhabitants along the route, cheering and waving Croatian and Vatican flags, greeted the Holy Father as he passed in his Popemobile, shouting: “Papa, Papa!”, “Papa, we love you!” and “John Paul!” At 7:45 p.m., the formal departure ceremonies for the Pope began at the Resnik Airport, at which the Successor of Peter, who had spent three days in Croatia, bid farewell to the highest Government officials, led by the President of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Franjo Tuđman; and Church dignitaries, led by the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Josip Bozanic of Zagreb. After the Pope#!s address, ending with the words “God bless Croatia,” the Holy Father thanked the President of Croatia, who presented the Pope with an album of photographs taken during his three-day stay. Before boarding the Croatian Airlines aircraft, Pope John Paul II once again bid farewell to Archbishop Bozanić and President Tuđman. At precisely 8:30 p.m., the Holy Father left Croatia and flew toward Rome.