Bozanić retired, Kutleša takes over Zagreb archdiocese

Pope Francis has accepted the request for the retirement of Zagreb Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, who will be succeeded by Monsignor Dražen Kutleša as of today, announced the Apostolic Nunciature in Croatia.

The Apostolic Nunciature in Croatia has the honor to inform you that the Holy Father has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Cardinal Josip Bozanić from the pastoral management of the Zagreb Archdiocese. He will be succeeded by Msgr. Dražen Kutleša, the former coadjutor archbishop of the same archdiocese, said the press release.

Bozanić leaving due to poor health

Cardinal Josip Bozanić, who is the retired Zagreb Archbishop as of today, congratulated the appointment of the new Archbishop of Zagreb, Msgr. Dražen Kutleša, who became the 9th Metropolitan Archbishop of Zagreb, and thanked Pope Francis for accepting his resignation.

On the day of the appointment of Kutleša as the coadjutor archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Bozanić recalled that on February 14 he said that due to his impaired health, he very much wanted the new archbishop, who is now given to us as coadjutor, to take full responsibility for the Holy Church of Zagreb as soon as possible.

“Bearing this in mind as well as the new circumstances in the Church in Croatia in the midst of which the president of the Croatian Bishop’s Conference is the coadjutor archbishop, I considered it an act of love for the Church to ask the Holy Father to accept my renunciation as soon as possible,” said Bozanić, announced the Zagreb Archdiocese.

Bozanić thanked Pope Francis for accepting his resignation from the post of metropolitan archbishop of Zagreb in terms of his proposal today, which by virtue of the Pope's decree, Msgr. Kutleša became Archbishop of Zagreb.

Kutleša became the 77th bishop of Zagreb and the 9th metropolitan archbishop of Zagreb.

Bozanić said that the Ancient Church of Zagreb, endowed with the miraculous action of God's Spirit now on the basis of the synod process and the published statements and decisions of the Second Synod of the Zagreb Archdiocese, is beginning a new period which, as it regularly happened in the past, leaves its mark not only on the church but also social area.

“With a joyful heart, I congratulate the new Archbishop of Zagreb, Msgr. Dražen Kutleša. He and the dear Zagreb Archdiocese will always be in my prayers,” said Cardinal Bozanić.

He wanted the new pastor to be accepted with sincere respect, trust and a promise of obedient cooperation, always including him in their prayers.

Cardinal Bozanić will be 75 years old in March 2024, which is the time when, according to usual practice, a request for resignation is sent to the Pope, which the Pope may or may not accept.

Bozanić did it a year earlier.

In February, Pope Francis appointed Dražen Kutleša, the former archbishop of Split-Makar and president of the Croatian Bishops' Conference, as coadjutor archbishop of the Zagreb Archdiocese.

Pope John Paul II appointed Bozanić as the Archbishop of Zagreb on July 5, 1997, and he took over the duties of Archbishop of Zagreb on October 4 from the previous Archbishop Cardinal Franjo Kuharić.

Pope John Paul II appointed him cardinal in 2003.

“Surely there are feelings at this moment. Thanks to Cardinal Bozanić for his service to the Zagreb Archdiocese and to the Catholic Church in general during these 25 years of managing the archdiocese, and sincere congratulations followed by deep prayers for the beginning of Archbishop Dražen's service in this famous Zagreb church,” said Monseigneur Zlatko Koren for Croatian Television.

The new archbishop was coadjutor for two months. This is the time when he gets to know the archdiocese.

“The coadjutor archbishop has already held many responsible offices in various parts of the life and accomplishments of the Catholic Church in Croatia and the world. As an employee of the Holy See, he took part in the decisions that led to the establishment of the Sisak and Bjelovar-Križevac archdiocese. It is especially significant that the coadjutor archbishop preached for the first time in the worship space of the blessed Alojzije Stepinac, on Maundy Thursday, the day when Jesus gives us the mandate of the beauty of the commandment of love. It is also significant that he celebrated Palm Sunday in the National Shrine of St. Joseph. On Holy Saturday, the Easter vigil, was celebrated in the parish of St. Marko Križevčanin in Zagreb, and on the Easter holiday itself he was in the sanctuary of the Bistrica Mother of God,” said Koren.

The liturgical beginning of the service of the Archbishop of Zagreb, Msgr. Dražena Kutleša will be in the worship space of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac in Zagreb on Saturday, April 29, 2023, starting at 10 a.m.

Source: HRT