Blessed Aloysius Stepinac
Archbishop of Zagreb in wartime, convicted by the communist regime and confined until his death
- Rank
- Blessed
- Kind
- Bishop, Martyr
- Life
- 1898 – 1960
- Era
- 20th century
- Feast
- 10 February
- Countries
- Croatia
Life story
Alojzije Stepinac was born on 8 May 1898 at Brezarić in the Krašić district of Croatia, then part of Austria-Hungary. He served in the First World War, then studied theology in Rome and was ordained a priest in 1930. In 1934 he became coadjutor archbishop of Zagreb and in 1937, aged 39, succeeded as archbishop.
During the Second World War Croatia formed part of the Independent State of Croatia, ruled by the Ustaše in alliance with the Axis. Sources record that he spoke against some of the regime's policies and helped some Jews and others to escape. Many critics, however, fault him for not condemning more strongly the crimes against Serbs, Jews and Roma, and for his early relations with the regime. Judgements about him remain divided, and a joint Catholic–Serbian commission in 2017 could not reach a common conclusion.
After the war the communist Yugoslav authorities arrested him, and in 1946 convicted him of treason and collaboration, sentencing him to sixteen years' hard labour. He spent about five years in prison at Lepoglava and was then moved to Krašić, where he was confined. Pius XII made him a cardinal in 1953. He could not attend the Second Vatican Council because he was not permitted to leave Yugoslavia. A Zagreb court annulled the conviction in 2016, citing gross violations of legal principles.
He died on 10 February 1960 in Krašić, still under restriction. John Paul II beatified him on 3 October 1998 at Marija Bistrica, recognising him as a martyr.
Works and witness
- Named archbishop of Zagreb in 1937
- Helped some Jews and others in wartime, yet criticised for his stance toward the Ustaše regime
- Convicted in 1946 and sentenced to sixteen years; about five years in Lepoglava prison
- Confined at Krašić from late 1951 until his death
- Made cardinal in 1953; beatified in 1998
Saints from the same country
References
- Martyrologium Romanum
- Vatican decree and homily for beatification, 3 October 1998
- Zagreb County Court decision of 2016 annulling the 1946 verdict; reports of the 2017 joint Catholic–Serbian commission
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.