NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- The Vatican today issued an official schedule for the papal visit to Croatia, which will take place October 2-4. The trip will include stops in Zagreb, Marija Bistrica, and Split.

      On Friday, October 2, the Holy Father will leave Rome for Zagreb, arriving late in the afternoon. After welcoming ceremonies he will head to the Zagreb cathedral, to pray at the tomb of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac. The following day, he will preside at the beatification of Cardinal Stepinac, at the Marian sanctuary in Marija Bistrica. (The date of the ceremony coincides with the anniversary of day when Cardinal Stepinac was convicted of crimes against the Communist regime-- crimes for which he was sentenced to a lifetime of hard labor.)

      Upon returning to Zagreb after the beatification, the Pope will meet with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. Then in the evening he will meet with cultural leaders at the apostolic nunciature.

      The next day's program calls for a visit to Split, a city on the Adriatic coast, which is celebrating its 1700 anniversary. There the Pope will also meet with the Croatian bishops. After a subsequent meeting with religious educators, he will return from Split directly to Rome.

      This will be the Pope's second visit to Croatia; he previously traveled to Zagreb in 1994, during a time of warfare in neighboring Bosnia. Croatia is a country of 5 million people, mostly Catholics.