Josip Bozanić retired, Dražen Kutleša takes over Archdiocese of Zagreb

(Patria) - Pope Francis accepted the request for retirement of the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, who is succeeded today by Monsignor Dražen Kutleša, the Apostolic Nunciature in Croatia announced.

"The Apostolic Nunciature in Croatia has the honor to announce that the Holy Father has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Cardinal Josip Bozanić from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Zagreb. He will be succeeded by Msgr. Dražen Kutleša, the current coadjutor archbishop of the same archdiocese," the statement said.

The now retired Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, congratulated the new Archbishop of Zagreb, Msgr. Dražen Kutleša, on his appointment, who became the 9th Metropolitan Archbishop of Zagreb, and thanked Pope Francis for accepting his resignation.

On the day Kutleša was appointed coadjutor archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Bozanić recalled that on February 14, he said that due to his deteriorating health, he strongly wished for the new archbishop to take full responsibility for the Holy Church of Zagreb as soon as possible.

- Bearing this in mind, as well as the new circumstances in the Church in Croatia, in the midst of which the president of the Croatian Bishops' Conference is the coadjutor archbishop, I considered it an act of love for the Church to ask the Holy Father to accept my resignation as soon as possible," Bozanić said, the Archdiocese of Zagreb announced.

Bozanić thanked Pope Francis for accepting his resignation as Metropolitan Archbishop of Zagreb today, in accordance with his proposal, whereby by the Pope's decree, Msgr. Kutleša became the Archbishop of Zagreb.

Kutleša became the 77th Bishop of Zagreb, or the 9th Metropolitan Archbishop of Zagreb.