Episcopal Conference of Croatia

The Croatian Bishops' Conference (; ) (HBK) is an episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in Croatia. The Conference was founded on May 15, 1993 after Croatia regained its independence after the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, which consequentially led to the abolition of the Bishops' Conference of Yugoslavia. HBK is composed of all active and retired bishops; currently 32 (20 active, 11 retired, 1 military ordinary).

History During the breakup of Yugoslavia, Croatia declared its independence on June 25, 1991. The Holy See recognized Croatia on January 13, 1992. Croatian bishops made a proposal for the establishment of the Croatian Bishops' Conference.

On May 15, 1993, the Holy See issued a decree by which it established governing body for the Croatian dioceses-Croatian Bishops' Conference. Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Franjo Kuharić, was elected as a first Conference President.

The HBK Statute was renewed on February 5, 2000. Cardinal Josip Bozanić served as Conference president in two terms (1997–2007). At the HBK plenary session in October 2007 in the town of Gospić, Archbishop of Đakovo-Osijek Marin Srakić was elected as the President. Vice-Presidents of the Conference were Cardinal Josip Bozanić and Archbishop of Split-Makarska Marin Barišić. At the 45th session of the HBK that was held on November 14, 2012, Archbishop of Zadar Želimir Puljić was elected as the fourth Conference President.

HBK and Bishops' Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina takes care of the pastoral care of Croatian Catholics abroad. They also appoint together Episcopal Commission for the Pontifical Croatian College of St. Jerome in Rome. In addition, their common question are also liturgical books in Croatian. According to this, both Conferences have an annual common season.

HBK is a member of Council of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe and Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community.

Organisation Conference bodies are: Episcopal Commission (for: 1. Liturgy, 2. Relations with the European Union, 3. Croatian Caritas, 4. Relations with the State, 3. a Dialogue with the Serbian Orthodox Church, 4. Pontifical Croatian College of St. Jerome) Councils (for: 1. the Doctrine of Faith, 2. Catechizing, 3. Clergy, 4. Seminaries and Vocations, 5. Institutes of Consecrated Life, 6. Life and Family, 7. Laity, 8. Education, 9. Ecumenism and Dialogue, 10. Cultural and Church Cultural Assets, 11. Missions, 12. Pastoral Care of Migrants with committees for Pastoral Care of Tourists and Pastoral Care of Sailors, 13. Croatia Foreign Congregation with the National Office for the Croatian Foreign Congregation) Commissions (1. Legal, 2. "Iustitia et Pax" (Justice and peace), 3. Joint Commission of the Croatian Bishops' Conference, 4. Croatian Conference of Major Superiors and Croatian Union of Major Superiors) Committees (for: 1. Youth, 2. Social Communication, 3. Pastoral Care of Prisoners, 4. Pastoral Care of Roma) General Secretariat Offices of the General Secretariat (for: 1. Finances, 2. National Catechism, 3. Media, 4. Family, 5. Secular Societies, Movements and Communities, 6. Youth) Institutes (1. Central Institution of the HBK for maintaining clergy and other officers, 2. Croatian Caritas, 3. Croatian Catholic Radio, 4. Catholic Press Agency, 5. Center for the Promotion of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 6. Croatian Institute for Liturgical Pastoral)

The President and Vice President shall be elected for the time period of three years by bishops, with term renewable twice.

Members Members of the Croatian Bishops' Conference are: Active bishops: Name Title Duties within HBKDražen KutlešaArchbishop of ZagrebPresident of the ConferencePresident of the Legal CommissionPresident of the Episcopal Commission for relations with the StateMember of the Episcopal Commission for the Pontifical Croatian College of St. Jerome Josip BozanićArchbishop Emeritus of Zagreb Vice President of the ConferenceMember of the Permanent CouncilPresident of the Commission for relations with the European UnionŽelimir PuljićApostolic Administrator of Split-MakarskaArchbishop emeritus of ZadarPresident of the Permanent CouncilPresident of the Council for Culture and Church Cultural HeritageMember of the Commission for relations with the European UnionĐuro HranićArchbishop of Đakovo-OsijekPresident of the Council for catechizing and the new evangelizationMember of the Episcopal Commission for Relations with the StateMember of the Episcopal Commission for dialogue with Serbian Orthodox ChurchMember of the Committee for Croatian DiasporaPresident of the Committee for Pastoral care of Romani peopleIvan ĆurićArchbishop Coadjutor of Đakovo-OsijekMate UzinićArchbishop of Rijeka President of the Council for Institutes of Consecrated LifeMember of the Episcopal Commission for Relations with StatesMember of the Legal CommissionMember of the Mixed Commission of HBK and HKVRPPMilan ZgrablićArchbishop of ZadarVjekoslav Huzjak Bishop of Bjelovar-KriževciPresident of the Council for ClergyPresident of Commission Justice and PeaceMember of the Episcopal Commission for relations with the StateMember of the Episcopal Commission for Relations with the EUVlado KošićBishop of SisakPresident of the Council for ecumenism and dialogueMember of the Episcopal Commission for dialogue with Serbian Orthodox ChurchBože RadošBishop of VaraždinRoko Glasnović Bishop of DubrovnikRanko Vidović Bishop of HvarTomislav RogićBishop of ŠibenikNoneAntun ŠkvorčevićBishop of PožegaPresident of the Council for EducationMember of the Mixed Commission of the Croatian Bishops' Conference, Croatian Conference of Major Superiors and the Croatian Union of Major SuperiorsIvan ŠtironjaBishop of Poreč-PulaApostolic Administrator of KotorZdenko KrižićBishop of Gospić–SenjNoneIvica PetanjakBishop of KrkNoneJure BogdanMilitary Ordinary of CroatiaNoneMijo GorskiAuxiliary Bishop of ZagrebPresident of the Committee for YouthIvan Šaško Auxiliary Bishop of Zagreb President of the Commission for LiturgyMember of the Episcopal Commission for Relations with the StateMilan StipićEparch of KriževciVlado RazumAuxiliary Bishop of ZagrebMarko KovačAuxiliary Bishop of Zagreb

Retired bishops: Name Title Duties within HBKMarin Barišić Archbishop emeritus of Split-Makarska Ivan DevčićArchbishop emeritus of RijekaJuraj JezerinacEmeritus Military Ordinary Ivan MilovanBishop Emeritus of Poreč-Pula Marin SrakićBishop Emeritus of the Đakovo-OsijekValter ŽupanBishop Emeritus of KrkAnte IvasBishop Emeritus of ŠibenikNikola KekićEparch Emeritus of Križevci Josip MrzljakBishop Emeritus of VaraždinSlobodan Štambuk Bishop Emeritus of Hvar Valentin PozaićAuxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Zagreb

Presidents Franjo Kuharić (1993–1997) Josip Bozanić (1997–2007) Marin Srakić (2007–2012) Želimir Puljić (2012–2022) Dražen Kutleša (since 2022)

Episcopal Conference of Croatia

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