Pope Benedict has arrived in Croatia for a two-day visit.

He was welcomed at the airport in the capital, Zagreb, by Croatian President Ivo Josipovic.

This is the pope's first visit to Croatia, which is nearly 90-percent Roman Catholic.

The pontiff will take part in several religious celebrations, including the National Day for Croatian Catholic Families, and the Sunday Mass in Zagreb.

Pope Benedict, who has long backed Croatia's bid to become a member of the European Union, will try to allay fears that the country will sacrifice parts of its independence and religious identity by joining the EU. Croatia is expected to be the next country to join the 27-member bloc, possibly as early as 2013.

The late pope John Paul visited Croatia three times after its independence in 1991, and the Vatican was one of the first institutions to recognize Croatia's independence.