Joint press release by State Committee for Preparation of Visit by Holy Father Benedict XVI to Croatia and Croatian Conference of Bishops on Pope’s apostolic visit program

The Holy Father will be staying in Zagreb on 4 and 5 June 2011, and the motto of his visit will be "Together in Christ"

The Holy Father will be staying in Zagreb on 4 and 5 June 2011, and the motto of his visit will be “Together in Christ”.

After welcoming ceremonies at the Zagreb Airport, the Pope will meet with President of the Republic of Croatia Ivo Josipović at the President’s Office in Pantovčak and Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor at the Apostolic Nunciature.

At the Croatian National Theatre, the Pope will meet with representatives of culture, academia, entrepreneurship, civil society, politics, the diplomatic corps and the religious community superiors.

At the end of the first day, the Pope will attend a prayer vigil with young people in Zagreb’s central Ban Jelačić Square.

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 5 June 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 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.

Croatia is once again joyfully awaiting the visit by our time’s Peter, Pope Benedict XVI.

Mons. Marin Srakić, Archbishop and Metropolitan Bishop of Đakovo-Osijek and the President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops

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

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