Josip Bozanić (pronounced [jǒsip bǒzanit͡ɕ]; born 20 March 1949) is a Croatian prelate of the Catholic Church who was the Archbishop of Zagreb from 1997 to 2023. He was previously Bishop of Krk from 1989 to 1997. He was made a cardinal in 2003.


Josip Bozanić
Cardinal,
Archbishop Emeritus of Zagreb
ChurchCatholic Church
ArchdioceseZagreb
SeeZagreb
Appointed5 July 1997
Term ended15 April 2023
PredecessorFranjo Kuharić
SuccessorDražen Kutleša
Other post(s)
Previous post(s)
Orders
Ordination29 June 1975
by Karmelo Zazinović
Consecration25 June 1989
by Franjo Kuharić
Created cardinal21 October 2003
by Pope John Paul II
RankCardinal-Priest
Personal details
Born
Josip Bozanić

(1949-03-20) 20 March 1949 (age 75)
NationalityCroatian
DenominationCatholic (Roman Rite)
Alma mater
MottoDa život imaju
That they may have life
(John 10:10)
Coat of armsJosip Bozanić's coat of arms
Styles of
Josip Bozanić
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal
SeeZagreb

Biography

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Early life and ordination

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Josip Bozanić was born in Rijeka, Yugoslavia (now Croatia), the eldest of four children of Ivan Bozanić and Dinka Valković.[1] He attended the minor seminary of Pazin and the Theological Faculties of Rijeka and Zagreb, where he obtained a Master's degree in theology. He was ordained to the priesthood on 29 June 1975 by Bishop Karmelo Zazinović, whom he then served as private secretary until 1976.

Pastoral work

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He was a parish priest for three years before furthering his studies in Rome from 1979 to 1985. He earned a licentiate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University.

Upon his return to Yugoslavia, he served as chancellor (1986–1987) and vicar general (1987–1989) of the Diocese of Krk. He also taught dogmatic theology and canon law at the Theological Institute of Rijeka from 1988 to 1997.

Bishop

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On 10 May 1989, Bozanić was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Krk by Pope John Paul II.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following 25 June from Cardinal Franjo Kuharić, with Archbishop Josip Pavlišić and Bishop Zazinović serving as co-consecrators, at Assumption Cathedral.[citation needed] At the age of 40, he was one of the youngest bishops in Europe. [1] He succeeded as bishop of Krk on 14 November 1989.[citation needed] One of his ancestors, Bartol Bozanić, served in the same post from 1839 to 1854. [1]

He was apostolic administrator for the Archdiocese of Rijeka-Senj from June to November 1996.[citation needed] and was named the eighth Archbishop of Zagreb on 5 July 1997. [3] He was president of the Croatian Bishops' Conference from 1997 to 2007 and the vice-president of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences from 2001 to 2006.

Cardinal

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Pope John Paul made him cardinal-priest of San Girolamo dei Croati in the consistory of 21 October 2003.[4] Bozanić was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.[5]

Within the Roman Curia, he was named a member of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the Congregation for Catholic Education (renewed on 11 December 2010),[6] the Pontifical Council for the Laity, and the Special Council for Europe of the Synod of Bishops. On 5 January 2011 he was among the first members of the newly created Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation.[7] On 29 December 2011 he was appointed a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.[8]

On 18 September 2012, Pope Benedict XVI included him among his appointees to participate in the October 2012 Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization.[9]

He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2013 papal conclave that selected Pope Francis.[10] Pope Francis confirmed his appointment as a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education on 30 November 2013.[11]

In 2013, he intervened in the political campaign to alter the Croatian referendum so that it more explicitly defined marriage only as a union between a man and a woman. He issued a pastoral letter to be read in all Catholic churches across the country reminding parishioners that "Marriage is the only union enabling procreation". The referendum's approved by a vote of 66% to 34% was regarded as a major victory for the Church.[12]

Pope Francis accepted Bozanić's resignation as archbishop of Zagreb on 15 April 2023.[13] He had submitted his resignation at age 74, a year earlier than required.[14] He was immediately succeeded by his coadjutor, Archbishop Dražen Kutleša.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Josip Bozanić". Vercenjilist (in Croatian). 1 December 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  2. ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. LXXX. 1989. p. 800. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  3. ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. LXXXIX. 1997. p. 596. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Assignment of the Titles or the Deaconries to the new Cardinals". The Holy See. Office of Papal Liturgical Celebrations. 21 October 2003. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Elenco degli Em.mi Cardinali che entrano in Conclave secondo il loro rispettivo ordine di precedenza (Vescovi, Presbiteri, Diaconi)" [List of the Eminent Cardinals entering into Conclave according to their respective order of precedence (Bishops, Priests, Deacons)]. Sala Stampa della Santa Sede (in Italian). 18 April 2005. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2005.
  6. ^ Holy See Press Office
  7. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 05.01.2011" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 5 January 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 19.12.2011" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 29 December 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 18.09.2012" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Elenco dei Cardinali che entrano in Conclave secondo il loro rispettivo ordine e precedenza (Vescovi, Presbiteri, Diaconi)" [List of Cardinals entering into Conclave according to their respective order of precedence (Bishops, Priests, Deacons)]. Sala Stampa della Santa Sede (in Italian). 12 March 2013. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  11. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 30.11.2013" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 30 November 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Croatian Government to Pursue Law Allowing Civil Unions for Gay Couples". New York Times. 2 December 2013.
  13. ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 15.04.2023" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Neočekivana vijest s Kaptola: Kardinal Bozanić više nije nadbiskup, poznato je tko će ga zamijeniti". Poslovni dnevnik (in Croatian). 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Danas je papa Franjo prihvatio odreknuće od službe kardinala Bozanića". Archdiocese of Zagreb (in Croatian). 15 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Karmelo Zazinović
Bishop of Krk
14 November 1989 – 5 July 1997
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the Croatian Episcopal Conference
1997 – 18 October 2007
Succeeded by
Archbishop of Zagreb
1997 – 2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice-President of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences
2001 – 2 October 2011
Succeeded by
Preceded by Cardinal-Priest of San Girolamo dei Croati
21 October 2003 –
Incumbent
No prior officeholder Vice-President of the Croatian Episcopal Conference
16 October 2013 –