LEARN FROM MARY TO BE CREDIBLE WITNESSES, GENEROUS APOSTLES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 9, 2003 (VIS) - The Pope celebrated Mass in private at 7:30 a.m. at the archdiocesan seminary in Rijeka and later went to the airport where at 10 a.m. his plane left for Zadar, the last destination on his apostolic trip to Croatia.

Zadar has a population of 80,000, and is located on a small bay. A series of three islands buffers it from the sea. The city is considered the commercial, cultural and educational center of northern Dalmatian and contains Croatia's oldest university.

Upon landing, the Holy Father travelled in the popemobile to the Forum of Zadar, a large square that contains Roman ruins and is located on the seashore close to the Cathedral of Saint Anastasia. The square can hold up to 50,000 people. Stiepan Mesic, president of the republic, attended the ceremony, as well as other civil and military authorities, Archbishop Ivan Prendja of Zadar, along with Croatian bishops and Bishop Fotije, the Serbian-Orthodox bishop of Dalmatia.

John Paul II presided at the Liturgy of the Word, "the day after the Solemnity of Pentecost, the day on which Croats celebrate the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church. ... As on the day of Pentecost, the Blessed Virgin has remained spiritually in the midst of the Christian faithful down the centuries, invoking the constant outpouring of the Spirit's gifts upon the Church as she faces the challenges which arise in different periods of her history. In this way Mary carries out in its fullness her mission as Mother."

"The Virgin Mary," he continued, "gathering around herself the Apostles and the disciples who were tempted to disperse, commended them to the 'fire' of the Spirit who would launch them on the adventure of mission. ... As a witness to the origins of the Church and the guarantor of the fidelity of Christians in every generation, Mary repeats in every age the words she spoke at the wedding feast of Cana: 'Do whatever he tells you'."

The Holy Father indicated that "Mary's words and example represent a sublime school of life, at which apostles are formed. Apostles in the past and apostles today. ... It pleases me to know that this archdiocese has witnessed in recent years the growth and expansion of different forms of lay engagement and apostolate. Dear brothers and sisters, learn from Mary how to be credible witnesses and generous apostles, as you make your own contribution to the great enterprise of the new evangelization. And never forget that a genuine apostolate demands as a prior condition a personal encounter with Jesus, the Living One, the Lord."

"Mary Most Holy remains a model for all who hear the word of God and put it into practice." He concluded: "Let us too draw near to her, and learn to imitate her docility and openness to God. Let us too, the pilgrims of the third millennium, commend ourselves to her intercession, so that by her prayers she may sustain our faith, nourish our hope and make fruitful our charity."

After the liturgy of the Word, the Pope went in the popemobile to the airport, where he said goodbye to the president of the republic, the civil and political authorities and the Croatian bishops before returning to Rome. His airplane departed at 1:30 p.m. and was scheduled to land in Rome's Ciampiano Airport an hour later.

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