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 19th 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 13th to 20th 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