The Croatian Bishops' Conference says pope Benedict XVI will visit Croatia for the first time on June 4-5.
Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, visited Croatia - a Roman Catholic bastion in the Balkans - three times.
The Bishops' Conference, which includes all Croatian bishops, said Tuesday the pope will stay in Zagreb, the Croatian capital, for an annual national celebration of Catholic families.
The conference also said Tuesday the pope will pray before the tomb of Alojzije Stepinac, the World War II Catholic primate whom Pope John Paul II beatified during his 1998 trip.
Benedict's plans delight many Croats, eight in 10 of whom are Catholic.
But critics say the country, which is in a two-year economic downturn, cannot afford to
finance his visit.
The Bishops' Conference, which includes all Croatian bishops, said Tuesday the pope will stay in Zagreb, the Croatian capital, for an annual national celebration of Catholic families.
The conference also said Tuesday the pope will pray before the tomb of Alojzije Stepinac, the World War II Catholic primate whom Pope John Paul II beatified during his 1998 trip.
Benedict's plans delight many Croats, eight in 10 of whom are Catholic.
But critics say the country, which is in a two-year economic downturn, cannot afford to
finance his visit.
SIC: WP/USA-INT'L