Pope Benedict XVI departed from Zagreb to Rome aboard a Croatian Airlines special flight on Sunday evening, finishing his two-day journey to Croatia.

During his stay in Zagreb, the pontiff held meetings with top state officials and celebrated the Holy Mass on the occasion of the National Day of the Family on Sunday morning, attended the gathering in the Croatian National Theatre with representatives of the civil society and religious communities and participated in a prayer vigil with young people on Saturday afternoon.

The Holy Father also said a prayer at the grave of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac in the Zagreb Cathedral where he attended the Vespers with bishops, priests, nuns, seminarians, theology students and religious candidates on Sunday afternoon.

Inclement weather prevented a farewell ceremony at the Zagreb airport on Sunday evening.

The pontiff was seen off by top Croatian officials including President Ivo Josipovic and Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor as well as by high-ranking Croatian Catholic dignitaries.

This was Pope Benedict's 19th journey outside Italy, and the fourth pontifical visit to Croatia. His predecessor, John Paul II, was in Croatia in 1994, 1998 and 2003.