Pope Benedict XVI is at the start of a two-day trip to Croatia, a country whose population is nearly 90-percent Catholic.

Upon his arrival in Zagreb on Saturday, Benedict was welcomed by officials that included Croatian President Ivo Josipovic. Benedict then delivered a speech backing Croatia's bid to join the European Union.

"On the eve of Croatia's full integration into the European Union, this country's remote and recent history can stimulate reflection on the part of all the other peoples of the continent," Benedict said.

Preserving culture

Responding to fears that Croatia's history and culture could be swallowed up by joining the 27-nation EU bloc, Benedict said Croatia could play a role in preserving and injecting new life into "that priceless common heritage of human and Christian values."

En route to Croatia, Benedict conceded that he understood why some Croats might object to EU membership.

"It is possible to understand a sentiment of fear for the very strong bureaucratic centralism and the abstract rationalist culture [of the EU]," Benedict said. "But the entry of Croatia into Europe is logical, just and necessary."

Family values

The papal visit also coincides with Sunday's National Day of the Catholic Families of Croatia. The German-born pontiff is scheduled to deliver a speech on Sunday, June 5, at Zagreb's Hippodrome race track. A crowd of around 300,000 people is expected to attend.

The pope is generally seen as popular in the mostly-Catholic nation. While it is Benedict's first trip to Croatia as pope, he had previously visited as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger twice. His predecessor, John Paul II, visited three times during his time as pontiff.

Author: Matt Zuvela (Reuters, AFP, KNA, dpa)
Editor: Andreas Illmer