NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      ZAGREB (CWNews.com) - Pope John Paul II is expected to visit Croatia in October and beatify Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, who was imprisoned by Yugoslav Communist authorities after World War II, said Archbishop Josip Bozanic on Friday.

      Addressing a congregation in Krasic, the birthplace of Cardinal Stepinac, the archbishop said the Holy Father would visit Croatia from October 2-4, the Hina state news agency reported. He is expected to beatify Stepinac on October 3 at the Marija Bistrica shrine.

      Cardinal Stepinac was arrested and tried by Yugoslav authorities for allegedly supporting the Nazi-backed Ustasha fascists, who killed thousands of Jews, Serbs, and Gypsies in Croatia. He died under house arrest in 1960. However, Croatia's Jewish community recently credited the cardinal with helping to avert the persecution of many Jews.