Rijeka (Croatia), June 05: Croats can't help but feel blessed. They're welcoming Pope John Paul II for the third time in a decade as the frail but determined Pontiff sets off on his landmark 100th foreign pilgrimage. The grueling five-day, five-city tour, which gets under way today, will put the 83-year-old pope's strength to the test. John Paul will travel from one end of the former Yugoslav republic to the other in early summer heat.
The Pope didn't hide his affection for this overwhelmingly Roman Catholic corner of the Balkans, offering Croats a blessing, ``with all my heart'' on the eve of his departure from Rome and asking for their prayers. Croats were quick to answer with deep appreciation for being chosen as the venue for the historic 100th papal trip.
``It shows how much the Holy Father cherishes Croatia, its church and its people,'' said Ivan Devcic, Bishop of the Adriatic port city of Rijeka, which will serve as a base for the Pope and his entourage. About 80 per cent of Croatia's 4.5 million people are Roman Catholics, and the Vatican was among the first to recognise the country's statehood in January 1992, six months after it declared independence from Yugoslavia. For most Croats, the Pope is the highest moral authority. Half a million faithful are expected to attend papal masses in Rijeka, in the southern coastal cities of Dubrovnik and Zadar, and in Osijek and Djakovo to the east. Bureau Report