73 years marked since massacre of Franciscans in Herzegovina

The 73rd anniversary of the liquidation of 66 Franciscans in Herzegovina was marked with holy mass and a procession in front of the Franciscan monastery in Široki Brijeg. On February 7th, 1945, communist partisan forces entered Široki Brijeg and committed grave crimes, including the burning of twelve friars in a shelter not far from the monastery in Široki Brijeg.

The Provincial of the Herzegovina Franciscan Province, Father Miljenko Šteko, pointed out that today’s times, and times back then, were filled with fear and a feeling of insecurity, which is why a great number of families decided to leave their very own homeland. He said that wounds from the past have still not healed. “In this prayer remembrance we gather all tears held back and all sleepless nights, all pain that ripped at the sorrowful hearts of those that remained behind them, and had to keep quiet, stripped of their rights, even the right to a funeral, a dignified final resting place and their memory,” said Father Šteko.

He warned that today’s times are filled with numerous temptations which is why more people are dying than are being born, as well as massive departures as a result of “unresolved social and economic relations.”

This exodus has reached worrying proportions a long time ago. “However, if we run from fear we will never outrun it,” said the Provincial of Franciscans in Herzegovina.

At the end of holy mass for the deceased the General Vicar for Herzegovina Diocese’, don Željko Majić, addressed those gathered noting that he hoped all necessary evidence will be gathered so that the killed friars may be declared martyrs.

According to Franciscan sources, at the end of World War II in the Herzegovina area, 66 friars were killed, including the Provincial Father Leo Petrović. The Catholic Church has initiated the process of proving martyrdom for them.

Source: HRT