Zagreb, (IKA) – On December 20, the Croatian Conference of Bishops and the State Committee for the Preparation of the Visit by the Holy Father Benedict XVI to the Republic of Croatia announced the program for the apostolic visit by Pope Benedict XVI to the Republic of Croatia. The Holy Father will visit Zagreb on Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5, 2011. The motto of his visit will be “Together in Christ.”
After welcoming ceremonies at the Zagreb airport, the Pope will meet with the President of the Republic of Croatia, Ivo Josipović, at the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia in the Pantovčak section of Zagreb, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Jadranka Kosor, at the Apostolic Nunciature.
At the Croatian National Theater, the Pope will meet with representatives of culture, academia, entrepreneurship, civil society, politics, the diplomatic corps and the superiors of religious communities.
At the end of the first day, the Pope will attend a prayer vigil with young people on Ban Josip Jelačić Square, the main square in Zagreb.
The central event of the pastoral visit to Croatia will be the celebration of the Eucharist on the occasion of the National Encounter of Croatian Catholic Families, to be led by the Holy Father on Sunday, June 5, at the Zagreb Hippodrome.
After the Mass, Pope Benedict XVI will lead the prayer of Regina Coeli (Kraljice neba), and send a message to the faithful throughout the world from Zagreb in his traditional Sunday noon address.
On Sunday afternoon, the Pope will lead Vespers in the Zagreb cathedral with bishops, priests, religious, theologians and seminarians. Then the Holy Father will pray at the tomb of the Blessed Alojzije Cardinal Stepinac.
The statement was signed by Archbishop and Metropolitan Bishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Osijek, the President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, and by Gordan Jandroković, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration and the Chairman of the State Committee for the Preparation of the Visit by Pope Benedict XVI to the Republic of Croatia.