Pope Benedict addresses Croatia's intellectual elite. Papal press conference . Pope Benedict XVI warmly received in Croatia

Pope Benedict addresses Croatia's intellectual elite One of the key events on Pope Benedict's agenda during the first day of his pastoral visit to Croatia was a meeting with the country’s political, academic, business, diplomatic and religious leaders which was held in Zagreb’s National Theatre. Our correspondent travelling with the pope is Tracey McClure and she filed this report on that encounter: "It represents some of this country’s contradictions: based on Marshall Tito Square – a tribute to the former Communist leader who ruled the Yugoslav Republic with an iron fist – the 19th c. National Theater’s elegant understatement takes your breath away. Representing the former glory and luxury of Franz Joseph’s Austro Hungarian empire, it rises majestically from the midst of this city, witness to so many conflicts and a crossroads between  ...»
Vatican  The Papal trip to Croatia at its midway point Pope Benedict has been warmly received during his first trip to Croatia. Tracey McClure is in Croatia with the Pope, and on Saturday evening spoke with us about the trip so far: Listen:   ...» Papal press conference In what has become a tradition during papal trips abroad, Pope Benedict answered questions put to him by journalists during his flight to Croatia on Saturday morning. Read the following translation (from Italian into English) of the journalists’ questions and the Pope’s replies: Question: Your Holiness, You’ve already visited Croatia and your predecessor made no fewer than three visits to this  ...» Looking ahead to the day for Croatian Catholic Families Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Croatia on Saturday for a two-day pastoral visit. During the trip, the Holy Father will mark the National Day of Croatian Catholic Families. Tracey McClure is in Zagreb, and spoke with Vincent Batarelo, director of the office of Family Life at the Archdiocese of Zagreb. He told her more about the preparations for the celebration, as well as the effects of Communism  ...» Pope Benedict XVI warmly received in Croatia Among the dignitaries on hand to greet the Pope: Croatian and Vatican flag waving children and their parents in traditional embroidered dress – many with red kerchiefs and aprons. A small boy reached up to offer a smiling Benedict a bouquet of white, red and yellow flowers – another evoked a chuckle from the Holy Father: he wants to become the Pope’s personal airplane pilot one day. This is,  ...» Pope Benedict XVI in Croatia - Arrival at Pleso Airport Below is the full text of Pope Benedict XVI’s discourse at the welcoming ceremony at Zagreb’s international Pleso Airport, Croatia, at the start of his apostolic journey to the country. Mr President, Dear Brother Bishops, Distinguished Authorities, Dear Brothers and Sisters, It gives me great joy to come among you as a pilgrim in the name of Jesus Christ. I offer my most cordial greetings to the beloved  ...»  http://www.radiovaticana.org/