Cardinal Franjo Kuharić,
Archbishop
emeritus of Zagreb (Croatia), was born on 15 April 1919 in Pribic.
In 1934 he moved to Zagreb to pursue studies in the archdiocesan
classical lyceum and then in the School of Theology of the local
university.
Finishing his studies in 1945, the 15th of July of that same year he was
ordained a priest. Immediately involved in pastoral activity, he was
chaplain and then administrator of village parishes on the outskirts of
Zagreb. In 1957 he became pastor in the city of Samobor until 1964, when
Pope Paul VI named him titular archbishop of Meta, appointing him as the
same time Auxiliary Bishop to Mons. Franjo Sjeper, then archbishop of
Zagreb. The following 3 May he received his episcopal ordination in the
cathedral of the archdiocese. In 1969, he was appointed apostolic
administrator of the archdiocese.
On 16 June 1970, Paul VI promoted him to archbishop of Zagreb. In
September of that same year, he was elected president of the Bishops’
Conference of Yugoslavia until 1992 and then President of the Bishops’
Conference of Croatia until 1997.
Participated in the Second Vatican Council, especially at the third and
fourth sessions during which he gave reports on priestly life and
activity, marriage questions and the relationship between the Church and
science.
Resigned as Archbishop on 5 July 1997.
Created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the Consistory of
2 February 1983, of the Title of St. Jerome of the Croats.
Cardinal Franjo Kuharić died on 11 March 2002. |
