Zadar, (IKA) – Msgr. Želimir Puljić, the bishop of Dubrovnik for the past twenty years, has been chosen as the new archbishop of Zadar – the 113th pastor in the seventeen centuries of the Church of Zadar. This decision by Pope Benedict XVI was personally announced by Msgr. Mario Roberto Cassari, the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, in the auditorium of the Zmajević Seminary in Zadar. Throughout the Archdiocese of Zadar, all the church bells rang in celebration at 11:45 a.m. At 11:15 a.m., on Monday, March 15, Nuncio Cassari addressed the priests of the Archdiocese of Zadar, the members of the Cathedral Chapter of St. Anastasia and the Board of Advisors of the Archdiocese of Zadar. “The apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, the Most Rev. Msgr. Mario Roberto Cassari, has the honor and joy to announce that on March 15, 2010, the Holy Father Benedict XVI appointed the Most Rev. Želimir Puljić as the archbishop of Zadar, transferring him from the episcopal see in Dubrovnik,” said Nuncio Cassari. At the same time, the news was also announced by the Episcopal Ordinariate in Dubrovnik. The nuncio also presented the curriculum vitae of Msgr. Puljić, who is presently serving as the President of the Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops for Culture and Church Goods and the President of the Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops and the Conference of Bishops of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Foreign Pastoral Activity. Msgr. Želimir Puljić was born on March 7, 1947, in Kamena, the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He graduated from the diocesan secondary school in Dubrovnik and studied theology in Split and Rome. In Rome, he received a licentiate diploma in pastoral theology from the Pontifical Lateran University and a doctorate in psychology from the Pontifical Salesian University. On March 24, 1974 in Rome, he was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno. After completing his studies, from 1978 to 1980 he served as prefect at the school of theology in Sarajevo. From 1980 to 1985, he was the prefect of studies and also served as the rector of the same institution from 1985 to 1988. On December 7, 1989, he was appointed bishop by Pope John Paul II and was ordained a bishop in Dubrovnik on January 14, 1990, when he assumed this office.

“Congratulations, Coraggio e viva Zara,” said Nuncio Cassari warmly at the end of the meeting with the priests of Zadar, which concluded with the singing of the hymn Lord, We Praise Thee (Tebe Boga hvalimo) by the Zadar priests. Msgr. Cassari told them: “The great pastoral abilities, as well as the human, intellectual, priestly and administrative qualities of your new pastor are well known and appreciated. In Rome he achieved academic qualifications, a licentiate in pastoral theology and a doctorate in psychology. He is the author of several publications, speaks and writes excellent Italian and German, and also knows English and French. We all together once again thank the Lord and the Holy Father, who have given us another good pastor who will work for the Kingdom of God, for the spiritual and social good of your archdiocese. Together with you, I also want to express profound gratitude to the new archbishop of Zadar for accepting the office entrusted to him by the Holy Father.” Addressing the priests, Msgr. Cassari began with a remembrance of the late Archbishop Ivan Prenđa, saying that the Holy Father, his closest associates and everyone in Croatia were stricken by the sudden loss of dear Archbishop Prenđa, who was highly appreciated as a pastor, priest and person. “We got down to work quickly and proposals were delivered to the Pope so that he would be able to choose the successor to Msgr. Prenđa in the dear Archdiocese of Zadar. It is well known that the Pope has the last word in the appointment of a bishop. Through the centuries, the Croatian nation has always demonstrated love and obedience to the Successor of Peter. This also applies to all who constitute the Archdiocese of Zadar. I wish to thank the Lord, and with him Pope Benedict XVI, for the paternal concern shown toward the Archdiocese of Zadar.” Nuncio Cassari expressed great joy at the honor to have been invited by the Rev. Milivoj Bolobanić, diocesan administrator, to celebrate the ceremonies of Holy Week in Zadar. The nuncio also visited the grave of the late Archbishop Prenđa in the Cathedral of St. Anastasia in Zadar. Until the new archbishop of Zadar assumes office, the Archdiocese of Zadar will be administered by the Rev. Milivoj Bolobanić, who was also present at the meeting between Nuncio Cassari and the priests of Zadar.