Zagreb, (IKA) – The President of the Republic of Croatia, Stjepan Mesić, sent a telegram of condolence to Archbishop Ivan Prenđa of Zadar on the occasion of the death of the Archbishop Emeritus of Zadar, Msgr. Marijan Oblak. “Ordained to the priesthood immediately following the Second World War, for over sixty years in the priesthood and fifty years in the episcopate, the late archbishop zealously performed numerous duties, indebting many through his devoted pastoral work. He invested a great part of his talent in educational activity. He was a participant in the Second Vatican Council, in the spirit of which he responsibly administered the Zadar Archdiocese for more than a quarter of a century. In the spirit of openness and dialogue, he also worked with the civil authorities. After the establishment of democracy in the Republic of Croatia, he had an important role in establishing cooperation with the democratically elected authorities for the good of the Catholic faithful and all people of good will. I am convinced that the memory of the life of the late Archbishop Oblak will be permanently preserved as model of responsible service to the Church and his nation,” stated President Mesić.
Msgr. Marijan Oblak was the recipient of three high state honors from the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia. Msgr. Oblak neither spoke of the high orders that he was awarded nor did he feel the need to emphasize them. In 1995, the President of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Franjo Tuđman, awarded him the Order of Duke Branimir, which is bestowed for particular merit achieved in promoting the international position and reputation of the Republic of Croatia and its relations with other countries. In 1998, President Tuđman awarded him the Order of the Croatian Morning Star with the figure of Katarina Zrinski, which is bestowed for the promotion of moral values. That year, he also received the Commemorative Medal of the Homeland War. “Few have received such honors. This was the particular expression of the will of the President, and not the customary procedure of proposals for decorations, which otherwise come from the lower ranked local or state institutions,” said the head of the Office of the President for awarding decorations.