POPE WELCOMED TO VATICAN BY VIS, PRESS OFFICE STAFF

VATICAN CITY, JUN 10, 2003 (VIS) - Pope John Paul returned to the Vatican from his milestone 100th foreign trip at 3:30 yesterday afternoon, having completed a five-day journey in Croatia, and looking forward to his one-day trip on June 22 to Banja Luka, Bosnia-Herzegovina, where he will beatify Servant of God Ivan Merz.

The staff of the Holy See Press Office and Vatican Information Service were present in the San Damaso courtyard of the Apostolic Palace to welcome the Holy Father back to the Vatican. To thank them for their tireless work in providing information on his apostolic trips, the Pope personally greeted each member of the staff.

JPII-TRIP;RETURN ROME;...;...;VIS;20030610;Word: 120;