S.E.R. Josip Bozanić

On the 20th of August 2016, during the celebration held at the fully packed square right outside St. Stephen’s Basilica, Rijeka-born Josip Bozanic – Croatian Cardinal and Archbishop of Zabreb – talked about the common struggles of Hungary and Croatia, recalled the period of communism and added, that the two nations have many things in common – not just in terms of their suffering, but regarding their values and the witness of their saints, too. He also pointed out that our credible European culture is rooted in the mercy that is preached in gospel, and that in today’s world we are threatened by endeavours that seek to transform the foundations of our Christian culture. Bozanić was ordained a priest in 1975, became a bishop in 1989, and since 1997 he has been serving believers as an achbishop. He was appointed a Cardinal in 2003. For a decade he acted as President of the Episcopal Conference of Croatia, while starting from 2001, he served as vice-president of the Council of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe for ten years. Josip Bozanić is also one of those Cardinals, who sat on the Conclaves that elected both Pope Benedict XVI. and Pope Francis.