NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- The itinerary for a papal trip to Croatia in October has been set, according to a preparatory commission.

      The Pope will travel to Croatia on Friday, October 2, arriving in Zagreb for a meeting with young people. On the following day he will travel to Marija Bistrica, a Marian sanctuary, to preside at ceremonies for the beatification of Cardinal Stepinac. That afternoon, he will return to Zagreb for a meeting with the country's President Franjo Tudjman.

      On Sunday, October 4, the Pope will travel to the port city of Split, on the Adriatic coast, to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the city's foundation. He will celebrate Mass there before returning to Rome that evening.

      This will be the second papal visit to Croatia, a predominantly Catholic country of 5 million people, since it became independent of Yugoslavia. John Paul previously visited Zagreb in September 1994.