Upon his arrival at the Zagreb airport, Pope Benedict XVI extended his cordial greetings to Croatia and those who gathered at the airport to welcome him at the beginning of his two-day visit to the Croatian capital.
"I am coming with great joy to you as a pilgrim in the name of Jesus Crhist," the pontiff in his speech.
"I greet the beloved Croatian land and its citizens," he said in the Craotian language after President Ivo Josipovic delivered a welcome speech.
"I am extending kind greetings to You, Mr. President of the Republic of Croatia and other civilian and military authorities who have gathered here," the Holy Father said.
In the continuation of his speech which he delivered in the Italian language, the pontiff extended special greetings to the Catholic community: bishops, priests, nuns, the faithful and notably the families in this country. He thanked President Josipovic on the cordial welcome speech and said he wished him success in performing his duty as well as peace and progress to the entire country.
On this occasion Pope Benedict recalled the three pastoral visits of his predecessor, Blessed Pope John Paul II, and thanked the Lord for long history of fidelity of Croatia to the Holy See.
We have more than 13 centuries of strong and special ties, fortified in sometimes difficult and traumatic circumstances. This history is the proof of the love of your people to the Gospel and to the Church, he said.
Since the very beginnings, your people has belonged to Europe and the Croatian people is giving its contribution to Europe in a specific way through spiritual and moral values which have modelled your everyday life and your national identity through centuries, he said in the speech upon his arrival at the Zagreb airport.
