VATICAN CITY, MAY 30, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican press office confirmed that John Paul II on June 22 will visit Banja Luka, a city in Republika Srpska, the ethnic Serb part of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The Pope's 101st international trip will last about 13 hours. He will leave Rome at 8:14 a.m. and return at 9 p.m., the press office said today.
The key moment of the visit will be the beatification of Ivan Merz (1896-1928).
Born in Banja Luka, Merz was a consecrated layman, philosopher and theologian who dedicated himself to the education of youth in the ambit of Catholic Action. He played a key role in the liturgical movement among Croatian Catholics. John Paul II will visit Croatia from June 5-9.
ZENIT Daily dispatch - The World Seen from Rome
30. mai 2003