Croatia mourns the passing of Pope Francis with deep reverence, reflecting the nation’s long-standing ties to the Vatican and Catholic faith.
From Easter Mass tributes to a national Day of Mourning, Croats honour a spiritual leader remembered for his humility, compassion, and historical connection to their identity. Discover how Pope Francis impacted Croatia and why his legacy resonates so deeply.
Croatia Bids Farewell to Pope Francis with Reverence
Croatia is bidding farewell to Pope Francis with reverence. The sad news of his passing caught many believers during Easter Monday Mass. They were visibly shaken and saddened.
“He was a witness of evangelical simplicity and profound spirituality, and his life’s service was, as Saint Paul would say, a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God,” stated the Archbishop of Zagreb, Monsignor Dražen Kutleša, who was appointed to this high office by Pope Francis.
Top state officials and nearly all political parties expressed their condolences with carefully chosen words. Requiem Masses are being held in churches, and on the day of the funeral, bells will ring in all churches for fifteen minutes. That day will be declared a Day of Mourning in Croatia.
Those who had the opportunity to meet the Pope personally shared their memories in public. They spoke of his humility, simplicity in communication, sense of humour, and his affinity for ordinary people. They also highlighted how he protected marginalised groups, showed mercy to the rejected and those in need.
Historical Ties Between Croatia and the Holy See
Croatians have always held the Holy See and the Vatican in high regard. This is part of their tradition, but also of historical circumstance. From the Roman Pope, as history reminds us, came international recognition of the first Croatian rulers.
“To the beloved son Branimir” is the beginning of a letter from Pope John VIII in the year 879, in which he granted his blessing “for him, his people, and his land”. Even in the long period that followed, when there was no Croatian state, Croats looked to the Bishop of Rome for support.
They remained faithful even during communism, when the authorities, despite their violent efforts, failed to sever the Catholic Church in Croatia from the Vatican. Moreover, Pope John Paul II played a vital role in the international recognition of an independent Croatia in 1992.
Relationship with Pope Francis Shaped by History
Taking all this into account, it is unsurprising that the relationship between Croats and Pope Francis is, in principle, based on this historic bond. And this, regardless of certain differences that arose on specific issues.
Some in Croatia celebrated Pope Francis’s inclination towards modernising the Church as a major achievement, while others advocated for a Church that would preserve traditional values.
There were also disagreements surrounding the canonisation process—declaring as a saint—the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, Archbishop of Zagreb, who was sentenced to prison by the communist authorities. He died under house arrest and is regarded in Croatia as a martyr of the faith.
Although he always spoke positively of Cardinal Stepinac, Pope Francis formed a mixed Catholic-Orthodox commission to review his role during the Second World War. This decision, unfortunately for many of Stepinac’s devotees, stalled the entire process.
Nevertheless, Croats have always seen the Bishop of Rome as the leader of their Catholic faith and a kind of advocate for their people. Some fulfill this role more, some less. Thus, Pope Francis is also being bid farewell with due respect, as this is an institution with which the Croatian people have been historically bound.
As for the election of a new pope, it is customary among Croats, when someone passes away, to avoid speculating about who will take their place—at least until the funeral rites are concluded. Only then will expectations regarding his successor be expressed.