2011-04-18 15:17:17

Vatican confirms schedule for Pope's first foreign trip of 2011


The Vatican has confirmed the final schedule of Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming visit to Croatia, his first foreign trip of 2011. The Pope will travel to the central European nation for two days on June 4th and 5th next.

Four Papal addresses and one open air Mass are on the agenda for the visit, as well as a prayer vigil with young people. Central to the first of the two days, the Holy Father's meeting with members of civil society and the world of politics, culture, academics and business, scheduled to be held in Zagreb's National Theatre of Croatia.

Later that evening, Pope Benedict XVI will join young Croatian Catholics in Ban Jelačič square for a prayer vigil, during which the Holy Father will speak directly to the young people.

Sunday morning see's the celebration of the only Mass during the 2 day trip. Pope Benedict XVI will mark the national family day with believers in the city's hippodrome. After lunching with the Croatian bishops Pope Benedict will pray vespers with the priests and religious of the national Church. He will also visit the tomb of Blessed Alojzije Viktor Stepinac, a former archbishop of Zagreb who suffered persecution under communist authorities in the mid-20th century.
Pope Benedict commemorated the 50th anniversary of Stepinac's death during the general audience last Feb. 10. Speaking in Croatian, he remembered the bishop and martyr, "who sacrificed his life ... in testimony for the faith." According to the 2001 census the majority of Croatians (87.8%) are Catholic.

Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to return to the Vatican the evening of Sunday June 5th.








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