Pope Benedict arrives in Croatia

Pope Benedict XVI has arrived in Croatia for a two-day apostolic journey during which he will mark the National Day of Croatian Catholic Families. The Holy Father touched down at Zagreb’s international Pleso Airport at 11:00 local time.

Our correspondent Tracey McClure is in the capital, and reports on how the city has prepared for this papal visit. Listen:

"Zagreb’s inhabitants can trace their roots back to Roman times – to the first settlements in the 1st century. But little here reminds you of its ancient past. Modern structures like the gleaming glass, steel and stone Bishops Conference Center that Pope Benedict will visit Sunday, the Concert Hall and National Library are exclamation points popping up amid communist-era apartment blocks and 19^th century Viennese style palaces inspired by the Austrian empire of Franz Joseph.

There’s anticipation for the Pope’s arrival - an overwhelming 90% of Croatians are Catholic- but no one seems in a hurry here. You can feel a certain languor in the air – people saunter - ambling round the countless outdoor cafes and pubs that fill the city center. The occasional cyclist glides by – almost grazing elbows with pedestrians who stray into the bike paths painted on the sidewalks.

Bike paths that breeze by the National Theater where Saturday afternoon, the Pope will make one of the key speeches on this trip. He’ll meet with civil, political and religious leaders and people from the worlds of culture and science. There, he’s likely to speak about the compatibility of science, reason and faith - and as the country comes closer to accession, about Croatia’s centuries-long Christian heritage in a seemingly indifferent European Union.

Then, he’ll be swept down the street to Josip Jelacic Square where a final paint job was being applied Friday to a white stage for Saturday’s evening prayer vigil with young people.

All seems ready at the Zagreb race track just outside the city center for Sunday’s big Papal Mass to celebrate the first National Catholic Family Day. The Pope will undoubtedly be challenging Catholics here to reenergize their faith and return to authentic Christian values under threat from the same consumerism and aggressive secularism sweeping most Western nations today.

Scaffolding is still up on the Cathedral bell tower – the Pope will celebrate vespers with religious and seminarians here late Sunday and pray at the tomb of Blessed Cardinal Aloyisius Stepinac, a martyr to the Communist regime. The flaking sandstone structure has seen wars, earthquakes, fire and a series of renovations from the 13^th to 20^th centuries. A huge poster wraps the scaffolding – the Vatican’s yellow and white – trumpeting a joyous salute to the Holy Father.

Snapshots: the golden statue of the Virgin Mary before the Cathedral, university student volonteers selling colourful tee shirts with the logo of this papal trip: Together in Christ – a family cupped in a pair of hands, imposed on yellow host and white cross.

Colorful storefronts packed with Joseph Ratzinger books, mementoes, posters, postcards and more tee shirts. Mega video screens set up in city squares, 1250 camera toting journalists accredited to cover the trip chatting up locals and pilgrims. Bountiful Flower beds erupting with the colors of Croatia’s red white and blue flag, Zagreb’s emblem and the Vatican’s yellow and white flag.

Though the pace may seem slow on the streets, the energy of hundreds of young and old is bubbling under the surface – and given thousands involved in late night choir practices, prayer meetings and the smiles on the faces of everyone you meet, I’m betting that the bubbles will turn into a veritable eruption of joy over the next two days…"
Awaiting the Holy Father in Zagreb, I’m Tracey McClure