Episcopal Conference of Croatia

The Croatian Bishops' Conference (Croatian: Hrvatska biskupska konferencija; Latin: Conferentia Episcoporum Croatiae) (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 27 (19 active, 7 retired, 1 military ordinary).^[1]

Croatian Bishops' Conference

Abbreviation	HBK
Formation	15 May 1993
Type	Civil nonprofit
Legal status	Active
Headquarters	Zagreb
Location	Ksaverska cesta 12a
Region served	Croatia
Membership	Active and retired Catholic bishops of Croatia
Official language	Croatian & Latin
President	Archbishop Dražen Kutleša
Parent organization	Holy See
Affiliations	CCEE COMECE
Website	hbk.hr

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.^[2] 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.^[3]

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 HBK
	Želimir Puljić	Archbishop of Zadar	President of the Conference President of the Permanent Council President of the Council for Culture and Church Cultural Heritage Member of the Commission for relations with the European Union
	Josip Bozanić	Archbishop of Zagreb	Vice President of the Conference Member of the Permanent Council President of the Commission for relations with the European Union
	Marin Barišić	Archbishop of Split-Makarska	Member of the Permanent Council President of the Council for Seminaries and Vocations President of the Commission for Dialogue with the Serbian Orthodox Church
	Ivan Devčić	Archbishop of Rijeka	Member of the Permanent Council Member of the Commission for relations with the European Union President of the Council for the Laity President of the Committee for the social communications
	Đuro Hranić	Archbishop of Đakovo-Osijek	President of the Council for catechizing and the new evangelization Member of the Episcopal Commission for Relations with the State Member of the Episcopal Commission for dialogue with Serbian Orthodox Church Member of the Committee for Croatian Diaspora President of the Committee for Pastoral care of Romani people
	Dražen Kutleša	Archbishop Coadjutor of Split-Makarska	President of the Legal Commission President of the Episcopal Commission for relations with the State Member of the Episcopal Commission for the Pontifical Croatian College of St. Jerome
	Mijo Gorski	Auxiliary Bishop of Zagreb	President of the Committee for Youth
	Vjekoslav Huzjak	Bishop of Bjelovar-Križevci	President of the Council for Clergy President of Commission Justice and Peace Member of the Episcopal Commission for relations with the State Member of the Episcopal Commission for Relations with the EU
	Jure Bogdan	Military Ordinary of Croatia	None
	Vlado Košić	Bishop of Sisak	President of the Council for ecumenism and dialogue Member of the Episcopal Commission for dialogue with Serbian Orthodox Church
	Zdenko Križić	Bishop of Gospić–Senj	None
	Bože Radoš	Bishop of Varaždin
	Ivica Petanjak	Bishop of Krk	None
	Tomislav Rogić	Bishop of Šibenik	None
	Ivan Šaško	Auxiliary Bishop of Zagreb	President of the Commission for Liturgy Member of the Episcopal Commission for Relations with the State
	Antun Škvorčević	Bishop of Požega	President of the Council for Education Member of the Mixed Commission of the Croatian Bishops' Conference, Croatian Conference of Major Superiors and the Croatian Union of Major Superiors
	Petar Palić	Bishop of Hvar
	Mate Uzinić	Bishop of Dubrovnik	President of the Council for Institutes of Consecrated Life Member of the Episcopal Commission for Relations with States Member of the Legal Commission Member of the Mixed Commission of HBK and HKVRPP
	Ivan Ćurić	Auxiliary Bishop of Đakovo-Osijek
	Milan Stipić	Bishop of Križevci

• Retired bishops:

Name		Title	Duties within HBK
	Juraj Jezerinac	Emeritus Military Ordinary
	Ivan Milovan	Bishop Emeritus of Poreč-Pula
	Marin Srakić	Bishop Emeritus of the Đakovo-Osijek
	Valter Župan	Bishop Emeritus of Krk
	Ante Ivas	Bishop Emeritus of Šibenik
	Nikola Kekić	Eparch Emeritus of Križevci
	Josip Mrzljak	Bishop Emeritus of Varaždin
	Slobodan Štambuk	Bishop Emeritus of Hvar
	Valentin Pozaić	Auxiliary 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)

See also

• Catholic Church in Croatia

References

1. http://www.hbk.hr/?type=clanak&ID=27
2. http://www.hbk.hr/?type=dokument&ID=33
3. http://www.hbk.hr/?type=vijest&ID=409

External links

• Croatian Bishops' Conference website (Croatian)
• Croatian Bishops' Conference webpage. GCatholic.org website