Rijeka, (IKA) – The Popes host – Archbishop of Rijeka Ivan Devcic – has judged the first day of the pastoral visit of the head of the Catholic Church to Croatia as excellent in all its parts, from the Welcome ceremony at the airport to the Welcome in Rijeka, HINA reported. The Archbishop of Rijeka gave his special thanks to the citizens of the host city who recognized the greatness of John Paul II, by expressing their respect through the massive show-up at the Welcome in Rijeka. Commenting the Holy Father’s messages at the Welcome, Archbishop Devcic, underlined that the Pope had directed us towards the European Union by the support of our intentions to come into the fellowship of the peoples of Europe and to build our future together with them.
After the meeting with the Holy Father in the Theological Seminary in Rijeka, president Mesic stated that this visit was a great privilege for Croatia. He said that they talked about Croatia, about the European themes, as well as about the region. The Popes messages of forgiveness, love and tolerance had the special place.
President Mesic expressed his special content with the fact that, at the airport, John Paul II had supported the Croatia’s efforts on the way towards the European Union. The admission to the European Union is a millenarian enterprise of all the European countries – added president Mesic, and expressed his hope that the messages of the Holy Father would leave a great trace in the Croatian public.