Herzegovina Affair ( hr, Hercegovačka afera) or Herzegovina Case ( hr, Hercegovački slučaj) refers to a conflict between the
Franciscan Province of Herzegovina
Franciscan Province of Herzegovina of the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a province of the Catholic religious order of the Order of Friars Minor, commonly known as Franciscans. It was established in 1843 when it seceded from the Franciscan ...
and the
Diocese of Mostar-Duvno over the redistribution of parishes in the said diocese. The conflict between the Franciscans and the diocesan clergy started with the restoration of the regular church hierarchy in
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and H ...
after its occupation by
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
in 1881. The Herzegovina Case presents a problem in the relationship between the Herzegovinian clergy, as well as the Catholic faithful.
History
Bishop Paškal Buconjić
In 1846, the
Holy See
The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of Rome ...
established the
Apostolic Vicariate of Herzegovina
Apostolic Vicariate of Herzegovina ( la, Vicariatus Apostolicus in Hercegovina; hr, Apostolski vikarijat u Hercegovini) was an apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church in the Ottoman Herzegovina that existed between 1846 and 1881, when it wa ...
, which was then part of the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
and it was considered to be a mission area. The first vicars were all Franciscans, including Fr.
Rafo Barišić, fr.
Anđeo Kraljević
Anđeo Kraljević (29 October 1807 – 27 August 1879) was a Herzegovinian Croat Franciscan and a prelate of the Catholic Church who served as Apostolic Vicar of Herzegovina in the Ottoman Empire from 1864 to 1879. Kraljević was also the fi ...
and fr.
Paškal Buconjić. Both Barišić and Kraljević requested from the Pope to introduce secular clergy in Herzegovina, which was finally approved after the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the region, and in 1881, with the papal bull ''
Ex hac augusta'', the Apostolic Vicariate was elevated to the
Diocese of Mostar-Duvno.
The Franciscans of Herzegovina were on bad terms with Bishop Kraljević, claiming he did not give them enough of the collected
alms
Alms (, ) are money, food, or other material goods donated to people living in poverty. Providing alms is often considered an act of virtue or Charity (practice), charity. The act of providing alms is called almsgiving, and it is a widespread p ...
for the construction of the friary in Humac. The conflict between the bishop and the Franciscans reached its peak during Buconjić's tenure because Franciscans controlled all of the parishes in Herzegovina while the bishop, even though a Franciscan himself, wanted to have diocesan clergy at his disposal. An anonymous letter was sent to Emperor
Franz Joseph
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I (german: Franz Joseph Karl, hu, Ferenc József Károly, 18 August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the other states of the Habsburg monarchy from 2 December 1848 until his ...
claiming the bishop was giving donations sent to him by Austria-Hungary to the Ottomans and accusing him of being a
turkophile
A Turkophile or Turcophile, ( tr, Türksever) is a person who has a strong positive predisposition or sympathy toward the government, culture, history, or people of Turkey. This could include Turkey itself and its history, the Turkish language, Tur ...
. The Franciscan Custody barred itself from this letter.
In February 1877, Kraljević asked the
Propaganda
Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded ...
to send an apostolic visitor to Herzegovina and accused Buconjić of neglecting the parishes and the Herzegovinian Franciscans of taking the payment for maintenance by force from the believers during the Easter Communion. The Congregation appointed Bishop
Kazimir Forlani the apostolic visitor; he arrived in Mostar in February the next year. Forlani finished his report in May 1878; he advised the Bishop to act in agreement with the Franciscans, to record revenues and expenditures, and to help the construction of the friary in Humac. The question of the parishes remained unresolved.
The main issue during Buconjić's episcopate diocese was the division of parishes between the diocesan clergy and the Franciscans, who tried to confirm their dominance in Herzegovina with Rome. Even though the papal bull ''Ex hac augusta'' ended the privileges the Franciscans enjoyed in their missionary work, they still wanted to retain all of the parishes in the diocese. The Franciscans were confident Buconjić, who himself was a Franciscan, would not disturb their possession of parishes. In December 1881, however, Custos Zovko wrote to the General of the Order about the parishes in Herzegovina. The General asked Zovko about the right of possession of those parishes, to which Zovko replied in February 1882 the Franciscans had established and controlled those parishes and therefore had patronage over them. That December, Zovko again asked the General about the situation with the parishes in Herzegovina; the General responded that Herzegovinian Franciscans have nothing to be afraid of since Buconjić loved the Franciscan Custody. Buconjić confirmed to the General he would not take the parishes from the Franciscans but would retain the newly established parishes for the diocese.
The new Custos
Luka Begić, who was elected in May 1883, became concerned the position of the Franciscans would be endangered, even if only the diocese controlled only the newly established parishes, and insisted even those parishes should belong to the Franciscan Custody. He talked to Buconjić about the issue; Buconjić complied with his concerns and agreed the newly established parishes should belong to the Custody. Begić informed the General about the agreement in July 1883; he received no reply so he wrote again in March 1885, when Buconjić was supposed to visit Rome and settle the issue. That May, the General's deputy
Andrea Lupori replied, asking Buconjić to take with him the contract about the parishes he signed and the definitors of the Custody.
The Custody decided Begić should follow Buconjić to Rome with the instruction the Franciscans should retain the parishes west of the
Neretva River
The Neretva ( sr-cyrl, Неретва, ), also known as Narenta, is one of the largest rivers of the eastern part of the Adriatic basin. Four HE power-plants with large dams (higher than 150,5 metres) provide flood protection, power and water s ...
while the bishop should dispose of those on the eastern bank; in the case, this would not be accepted, Begić was instructed to give in "as least as possible". Buconjić and Begić arrived in Rome on 12 May 1885. The Propaganda received Begić's request in June 1885 and they informed the State Secretariate about the issue. Secretary of State Cardinal
Luigi Jacobini
Luigi Jacobini (6 January 1832 – 28 February 1887) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Vatican Secretary of State from 1880 until his death; he was elevated to the rank of cardinal in 1879.
Biography
Bo ...
asked Nuncio Cardinal
Serafino Vannutelli
Serafino Vannutelli (26 November 1834 – 19 August 1915) was an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church, a cardinal and official of the Roman Curia where he held several of the highest administrative posts. Made a cardinal in 1887, he was named ...
in Vienna to ask Buconjić about the parishes the Franciscans were supposed to retain and those that were at his disposal. In December 1885, Vannutelli asked Buconjić whether he agreed with Begić's proposal or to write which parishes the Franciscans should retain and which should be at his disposal. In January 1886, Buconjić informed Vannutelli he would not take the parishes from the Franciscans.
Upon receiving Buconjić's answer, Vannutelli informed Jacobini the agreement between the Franciscans and Buconjić should not be confirmed and that the parishes should be divided as in Bosnia, where the situation was the same as in Herzegovina. Vannutelli proposed at least one-third of the parishes should be under the disposal of the bishop but because Buconjić was a Franciscan himself, Vannutelli considered it would be impossible to bring a new solution and that the Herzegovinian Custos should be informed Rome did not want to make any new decrees because there was a harmony between the bishop and the friars. Jacobini accepted Vannutelli's position. Thus, Rome kept the issue unresolved. Friar
Lujo Radoš fruitlessly urged the
Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs
The Section for Relations with States or Second Section of the Secretariat of State is the body within the Roman Curia charged with dealing with matters that involve relations with civil governments. It has been part of the Vatican Secretariat o ...
in March 1888.
Lupori advised Friar
Nikola Šimović to explain the Franciscans' position on the matter to the Nuncio in Vienna and to try to get a confirmation for their proposal. At the end of October 1889, he visited the Nuncio, who told him he would try to resolve the matter in the interest of the Franciscans. After returning to Mostar, Šimović again wrote to the Nuncio, reminding him of Radoš's proposal from 1888. The Nuncio replied in December 1889, promising to support such a proposal. The issue, however, remained unresolved for years.
In 1892, the Franciscan Custody of Herzegovina was elevated to a province. After Begić was elected Provincial in 1898, he tried to broker any deal he could, rather than to hold the insecure ''status quo''. Buconjić was supposed to visit Rome after Easter in 1899, which Begić saw as an opportunity to resolve the issue of parishes. Custos
Rafael Radoš was supposed to join Buconjić in Rome but he died in March 1899. In April that year, Begić wrote to the General of the Order to represent the Franciscan Province in Herzegovina. Buconjić discussed the issue with Begić; both men wanted to preserve the strong Franciscan presence in the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno. Buconjić proposed 25 parishes should belong to the Franciscans while 12 would be at the bishop's disposal. Buconjić also proposed the establishment of 12 additional parishes that would be at the bishop's disposal.
Pope Leo XIII confirmed the ''Decisia'' on 17 July 1899; 14 parishes were designated to the diocesan clergy while others were left to the Franciscans. Buconjić postponed the publication of the pope's decision until 1908; both Buconjić and the Franciscans were unsatisfied with the decision. The beginning of this publication states; "We considered it adequate to present before the eyes of the priests of our dioceses, and especially to the young ones, the copies of the solemn ''Decisia'' in relation to the parishes established or those ought to be established. This ''Decisia'' must remain solid and constant to avoid any dissent or changeability of wishes." He asked the pope for permission to trust certain dioceses to the Franciscans because he lacked the diocesan priests. With time, however, the ''Deceisa'' remained neither solid nor constant, and "the dissent and changeability of wishes" were not avoided. The will of Buconjić about the division of the parishes was not respected.
Bishop Alojzije Mišić
After becoming a bishop, Mišić only had 12 diocesan priests at his disposal, while the rest of the clergy was made of the Franciscans. The
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars refers to a series of two conflicts that took place in the Balkan States in 1912 and 1913. In the First Balkan War, the four Balkan States of Greece, Serbia, Montenegro and Bulgaria declared war upon the Ottoman Empire and defe ...
and the
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
halted the possibility of educating additional diocesan priests, while the number of Franciscans grew. The circumstances demanded the establishment of new parishes, and like his predecessor, Mišić had the authority to appoint the Franciscans to the new parishes with the approval from the general of the
Franciscan Order
, image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg
, image_size = 200px
, caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans
, abbreviation = OFM
, predecessor =
, ...
. The Herzegovinian Franciscans used the leverage by letting Mišić know that the Franciscans will not serve the new parishes unless they are legally transferred to them. Mišić cared little about raising the diocesan clergy even though as of 1925, the
Propaganda
Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded ...
sent him some 2,000
United States dollar
The United States dollar ( symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the officia ...
s monthly for the secular clergy. The money remained unused, and it perished in banks during the
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. He also refused to appoint newly ordained secular priests to parishes.
As a bishop, Mišić established 14 new parishes and constructed 21 churches and 24 parish residences. Among the parishes he established are
Čapljina
Čapljina ( sr-cyrl, Чапљина, ) is a city located in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located on the border with Croatia a mere from the Adriatic Sea.
The ...
(1917),
Izbično
Izbično is a settlement in the north-west of the Široki Brijeg, Široki Brijeg Municipality, below the Varda Hill.
The ''Župa'' (parish) of St. Joseph the Worker of Izbično includes Donja Britvica, Gornja Britvica and Solde hamlet, which belo ...
(1917),
Čitluk (1918),
Gradac-Blizanci (1918),
Tepčići (1918),
Jablanica (1919),
Grljevići
Grljevići is a village in the center of three municipalities: Ljubuški, Grude, and Široki Brijeg. The village consists of five smaller villages: Kordići, Čolaci, Zadre, Seve and Bunar and borders Borajna, Lipno, Rasno, and Vitina
Viti ...
(1919),
Kongora
Kongora is a village in the Municipality of Tomislavgrad in Canton 10 of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosn ...
(1921),
Prisoje (1922),
Kruševo
Kruševo ( mk, Крушево ; rup, Crushuva "Crușuva") is a town in North Macedonia. In Macedonian the name means the 'place of pear trees'. It is the highest town in North Macedonia and one of the highest in the Balkans, situated at an alti ...
(1924),
Ledinac (1930),
Rašeljke (1934),
Crnač
Crnač (Cyrillic: Црнач) is a village in the Municipalities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, municipality of Kakanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Demographics
According to the 2013 census, its population was 398.
References
Populated place ...
(1935) and
Šipovača (1939). The first major conflict between the Franciscans and the Diocese occurred in 1917, after the establishment of the Parish of
Čapljina
Čapljina ( sr-cyrl, Чапљина, ) is a city located in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located on the border with Croatia a mere from the Adriatic Sea.
The ...
. Čapljina was supposed to be handed to the diocesan clergy, but Mišić didn't enact the transfer.
The Herzegovinian Franciscans used Mišić's origin as an uninformed Bosnian outsider to try to change Decisia, the decision from 1899 on the division of parishes between them end the diocesan clergy issued by the Holy See, to their advantage. On 25 April 1922, the Provincial of the Herzegovinian Franciscans
Alojzije Bubalo wrote a petition for the pope to give them the parishes that were designated for the diocesan clergy by ''Decisia''. They demanded that all the parishes that exist and those that would be established in the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno belong to them, as well as the parish of
Neum
Neum ( cyrl, Неум, ) is a town and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the only town to be situated along the Bosnia and Herzegovina's coastline, m ...
that belonged to the Diocese of Trebinje-Mrkan. The Franciscans reasoned that their request was justified since there was a lack of the diocesan clergy in the diocese, with only three priests active. However, the main reason for the lack of the secular clergy was insufficient care of the previous bishop, Bucnjić, and the current bishop Mišić, over raising the secular clergy. At the time, Mišić was supposed to travel to Rome for an
ad limina visit with the pope, and was accompanied by friar
Jerko Boras, custos of the Herzegovinian Franciscans. Boras was supposed to give the petition to the General of the Franciscan Order
Bernardino Klumper who would discuss the issue with the pope. Since Klumper wasn't present at the time, the petition was given to
Callisto Zuccotti, the procurator of the Franciscan Order. Before giving the petition to the pope, Zuccotti invited Mišić, the protector of the Franciscan Order Cardinal
Oreste Giorgi
Oreste Giorgi (19 May 1856 – 30 December 1924) was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and was former Major Penitentiary of Apostolic Penitentiary.
Early life and priesthood
Oreste Giorgi was born in Valmontone, Italy. He was educa ...
, and Boras to discuss the issue. They concluded that Mišić personally should modify and give the petition to the pope.
Mišić modified the petition on 22 May 1922, and presented it as his own. The only difference between the two versions was that in Mišić's version, there's no distinction between the current and the future parishes that ought to be established. The reason for such a change was that the previous version stood in opposition to the canon law, which decreed that any newly established parish on the territory of an already existing one, belongs to the bishop, and not to any religious order. The
Congregation on the Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs asked Mišić to give them a list of parishes that would be at the disposal of the bishop. In the end, the Congregation refused to accept the petition, and requested that it should be approved by the bishop's consistory.
Upon the Congregation's refusal to accept the petition, Mišić ignored the whole issue. Only after Bubalo's insistence, Mišić agreed to send a petition but asked Bubalo to write it. Bubalo wrote another petition on 20 May 1923. In this petition, Bubalo requested that besides the 25 parishes that belong to the Franciscans according to ''Decisia'', additional 27 parishes be given to them, of which 13 haven't been established yet at the time, while 21 parishes would be reserved for the diocesan clergy (at the time, only 8 such parishes existed). His petition received Mišić's recommendation, with the approval from the bishop's consistory, made of Boras and another diocesan priest Marijan Kelava, on 3 June 1923 and was sent by Bubalo to the procurator of the
Franciscan Order
, image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg
, image_size = 200px
, caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans
, abbreviation = OFM
, predecessor =
, ...
in Rome on 12 June 1923. The Congregation ruled by a rescript on 22 June 1923, that the bishop can give the requested parishes to the Franciscans until the Holy See doesn't decree otherwise. This event marked the beginning of the Herzegovina Affair. His manners and incorrect information sent to the Vatican about the situation of the Church in Herzegovina, bolstered the dispute.
On 26 April 1924, Bubalo asked the approval from the General Definitory of the Franciscan Order to take over the parishes. The
gave power to the General of the Franciscan Order to approve the request of the Herzegovinian Franciscans on 27 May 1924, and the General approved the request on 30 May 1924. Accordingly, on 10 January 1925, Bubalo requested from Mišić to enact the rescript from 1923, since the Herzegovinian Franciscans gained the necessary approval from the General Definitory. Mišić enacted the rescript on 15 May 1925 with changes, placing
Gabela and
Glavatičevo
, image_skyline = Glavatičevo.jpg
, imagesize =
, image_caption = Glavatičevo village
, image_flag =
, flag_size =
, image_seal =
, seal_size =
, image_map ...
under the Franciscan instead of the diocesan control, while putting
Prisoje and
Dobrič under the diocesan control. Displeased with the change, the Franciscans asked Mišić not to change the rescript, however, Mišić considered this to be a good decision, and the change remained.
Perić Perić or Peric is a surname, very common in Croatia, Serbia, and the Czech Republic.
Notable people with the surname include:
* Borislava Perić (born 1972), Serbian table tennis player
* Darko Perić (born 1978), Croatian football player
* Dragan ...
writes that possible motive behind the change was Mišić's hope that the Franciscans would refuse the changes, so the whole matter can come before Rome once again. Mišić never publicly published his decree out of fear of the reaction of the diocesan clergy.
Buconjić bought land for a new cathedral church in the Rondo quarter of Mostar, that belonged to the parish of Guvno. The land for the new cathedral was later put under a
lien
A lien ( or ) is a form of security interest granted over an item of property to secure the payment of a debt or performance of some other obligation. The owner of the property, who grants the lien, is referred to as the ''lienee'' and the pers ...
in benefit of the Franciscan Custody of Herzegovina due to debt; at that time, Buconjić was bedridden. Mišić intended to continue the construction and ordered the laying of 250 square meters of hewn stone for the future cathedral, but never started the construction. The cathedral was never built, and the lend was later confiscated by the
Yugoslav communist
The League of Communists of Yugoslavia, mk, Сојуз на комунистите на Југославија, Sojuz na komunistite na Jugoslavija known until 1952 as the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, sl, Komunistična partija Jugoslavije mk ...
authorities, who constructed
House of Culture on its place. The Franciscan intention to take the parish of Guvno for themselves is seen as a possible reason for the delay in construction by Perić.
The joint efforts of Mišić and the Franciscans to change the Vatican's decision became known to the diocesan clergy only in 1937. When the archivist and a diocesan priest
Petar Čule
Petar Čule (18 February 1898 – 29 July 1985) was a prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the List of Roman Catholic bishops of Mostar-Duvno, bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Mostar-Duvno, Mostar-Duvno and of Roman Catholic Diocese of ...
found out about the rescript and its enactment, he was assured by Mišić's secretary friar
Boris Ilovača that the rescript wasn't enacted, even though he himself logged both the rescript and Mišić's decision on enactment. In 1935, Mišić gave Čule the care over the education of diocesan priests. Their number started to grow, with many Franciscans commenting that there would be not enough parishes for them. It was then, in 1937 in the parish of
Drinovci
Drinovci is a village in the municipality of Grude in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Geographical location
Drinovci are located on the southeast side of the Imotski karst field. The relatively large area of the town and 2,569 inhabitants, according ...
, that the diocesan clergy became aware of the rescript and its enactment, which led to the panic in its ranks as the diocese was effectively almost dissolved. Their worries were brought before Ilovača, who assured them once again, falsely claiming that Mišić hasn't confirmed the rescript. Mišić cared little about his own clergy, ordaining only 28 diocesan priests and later limiting the number of Herzegovinian candidates in 1939 at the Seminary in
Travnik
Travnik is a town and a municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the administrative center of Central Bosnia Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated in central Bosnia and Herzegovina, west of Sarajevo. As of 201 ...
to only 33, possibly under the influence of the Franciscans.
In 1937, at a general chapter of the Franciscan Province of Herzegovina, the Franciscans asked the bishop to secure a Herzegovinian Franciscan as his successor by appointing him
bishop coadjutor
A coadjutor bishop (or bishop coadjutor) is a bishop in the Catholic, Anglican, and (historically) Eastern Orthodox churches whose main role is to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese. The coadjutor (literally, "co- ...
. In this letter, they wrote that Herzegovina was "Franciscan for seven centuries, soaked in their sweat and martyr's blood", and that they preserved "Croathood and Catholicism in Herzegovina". They wrote that Mišić was "a great son of the Franciscan Order", and that within him lives the "Franciscan spirit" and that they will not allow this spirit to be diminished or truncated. Unaware of the Franciscans' request, the diocesan priests held their own annual meeting from which they sent a memorandum to the bishop, asking him about the situation with the parishes, however, Mišić never gave an official response.
In 1939, the diocesan priests, nevertheless, informed the metropolitan archbishop of Vrhbosna
Ivan Šarić about the situation with the parishes, and in turn, he informed the apostolic nuncio in
Belgrade
Belgrade ( , ;, ; Names of European cities in different languages: B, names in other languages) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city in Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers a ...
. Thus, the matter reached Rome once again. In 1940, the issue was discussed before the
Propaganda
Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded ...
and the Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs. Cardinal
Giuseppe Bruno, who signed the rescript from 1923, stated that the Franciscans' petition was written by stating falsehoods or by concealing the truth, as they requested the parishes that weren't established yet at the time. In 1941, Bruno again wrote on the issue, stating that the 21 parishes supposed to be under the bishop's disposal, weren't given to him and that it was not enacted (as he was wrongly informed at the time). Moreover, Bruno claimed that the rescript of 1923 is void since the Franciscans hadn't gained the necessary permission from the
to take over the parishes designated for the diocesan clergy. Nevertheless, the rescript wasn't recalled until 1965.
Bishop Petar Čule
The Contract on the Parish of Čapljina was signed only in 1969 between another Bishop
Petar Čule
Petar Čule (18 February 1898 – 29 July 1985) was a prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the List of Roman Catholic bishops of Mostar-Duvno, bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Mostar-Duvno, Mostar-Duvno and of Roman Catholic Diocese of ...
and Privincial Fr.
Rufin Šičić. However, this contract wasn't enacted either due to the opposition form the parishioners in Čapljina.
In 1968, the parishioners expelled Archbishop of
Zagreb
Zagreb ( , , , ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slop ...
Franjo Kuharić
Franjo Kuharić (15 April 1919 – 11 March 2002) was a Croatian Catholic cardinal, who served as the Archbishop of Zagreb from 1970 until his resignation in 1997. The cardinal was often referred to as the "Rock of Croatia" known for his def ...
and Bishop Petar Čule from
Široki Brijeg
,
, nickname =
, motto =
, image_map = BiH municipality location Široki Brijeg.svg
, map_alt =
, map_caption = Location o ...
, and a diocesan priest in
Grude
Grude () is a town and a municipality located in West Herzegovina Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Geography
Grude is located 49 kilometers from Mostar, 19 kilometers from Imotski, and 1 ...
was expelled in a trunk of a car.
In 1975, the Holy See issued a new decree ''
Romanis Pontificibus
''Romanis Pontificibus'' is a papal decree, issued on 6 June 1975 by Pope Paul VI, that concerns the Herzegovina Affair: the Franciscan friars of Herzegovina took control of the local parishes and refused to hand them over to the local bisho ...
'' regarding the redistribution of parishes. According to ''Romanis Pontificibus'', one half of parishes would be controlled by the Franciscans and the other half by the diocesan clergy. The Franciscans opposed the decree, claiming it wasn't written nor signed by the Pope. On 10 July 1976, the Franciscan Province of Herzegovina wrote to the Pope that they "cannot take the responsibility for the consequences that would follow after their acceptance of the decree". Whereupon, the Holy See removed the Provincial Administration and the province was managed by the Order's Minister-General in Rome through his designated delegate.
The fierce opposition against the enforcement of ''Romanis Pontificibus'' from the Franciscans stalled the enactment of the decree until 1996.
Bishop Pavao Žanić
The Mostar
Cathedral of Mary, Mother of the Church was completed in the summer of 1980 and consecrated on September 14, 1980 by Cardinal
Franjo Šeper
Franjo Šeper (2 October 1905 – 30 December 1981) was a Croatian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from 1968 to 1981, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1965. B ...
, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In order to create the cathedral parish it was decided to split the parish of SS. Peter and Paul. The Franciscans objected to this as being unfair.
[Perić, Ratko. "The Attacks of the Medjugorje 'Apparition' Against the Bishop Pavao Žanić", May 2, 2017]
/ref> Friars Ivica Vego and Ivan Prusina, were chaplains in the parish of SS Peter and Paul in Mostar
Mostar (, ; sr-Cyrl, Мостар, ) is a city and the administrative center of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the historical capital of Herzegovina.
Mostar is sit ...
, who refused to obey the Papal decree ''Romanis Pontificibus
''Romanis Pontificibus'' is a papal decree, issued on 6 June 1975 by Pope Paul VI, that concerns the Herzegovina Affair: the Franciscan friars of Herzegovina took control of the local parishes and refused to hand them over to the local bisho ...
'' and relocate from the parish. After several warnings, Bishop Žanić suspended their priestly faculties throughout the dioceses under his jurisdiction. (Honorius Pontoglio, General Vicar of the Order of Friars Minor
The Order of Friars Minor (also called the Franciscans, the Franciscan Order, or the Seraphic Order; postnominal abbreviation OFM) is a mendicant Catholic religious order, founded in 1209 by Francis of Assisi. The order adheres to the teachi ...
expelled Fr. Ivan Prusina from the Order on 29 January 1982).
Bishop Ratko Perić
On 2 April 1995, Bishop Ratko, along with his secretary, was abducted and beaten by Croat militiamen at a local Franciscan chapel. They were held for eight hours until rescued by UN peacekeepers and the Mayor of Mostar.McLaughlin, Daniel. "Little peace or tranquility at Bosnian village with murderous history near Medjugorje", ''The Irish Times'', July 6, 2011
/ref> The abduction was retaliation for Perić's intention to replace the Franciscans with diocesan priests in several parishes as well because of his criticism of the unconfirmed apparitions
Apparition may refer to:
Supernatural
*Apparitional experience, an anomalous, quasi-perceptual experience
* A vision, something seen in a dream, trance, or religious ecstasy
*Ghost, the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that can appear ...
of Mary, mother of Jesus
Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jews, Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Jose ...
in Medjugorje
Medjugorje ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Međugorje, Међугорје, ) is a town located in southwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina, about southwest of Mostar and east of the border with Croatia. The town is part of the Čitluk municipality ...
. He was released only after the intervention from the Mayor of Mostar and UNPROFOR
The United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR; also known by its French acronym FORPRONU: ''Force de Protection des Nations Unies'') was the first United Nations peacekeeping force in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav War ...
.
Yet another attempt to enforce ''Romanis Pontificibus'' was made by another Bishop Ratko Perić
Ratko Perić (born 2 February 1944) is a prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the bishop of Mostar-Duvno and apostolic administrator of Trebinje-Mrkan from 1993 until his retirement in 2020. After his retirement in July 2020, he briefly ...
on 12 May 1996. Several parishes were transferred to the diocesan clergy, but the transfer of clergy in Čapljina caused a disturbance. The entry of the diocesan clergy in Čapljina was physically disrupted, and the doors of the church were walled up. Three Franciscans that remained in Čapljina, despite the Pope's decree, were expelled from the Franciscan Order
, image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg
, image_size = 200px
, caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans
, abbreviation = OFM
, predecessor =
, ...
and their priestly jurisdiction was revoked in 1998.
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* {{cite web , url=https://www.md-tm.ba/biskupije/paškal-buconjić , title=Paškal Buconjić, OFM (1881.-1910.) , publisher=Biskupije Mostar-Duvno i Trebinje-Mrkan , access-date=27 July 2018 , ref={{harvid, Biskupija
Catholic Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina