Archbishop Đuro Hranić

Đuro Hranić was born on March 20, 1961, in Vinkovci, to the late Stjepan and Eva (née Marković). He grew up in Cerić, in the parish of Nuštar. He attended primary school in Cerić and Nuštar from 1967 to 1975. He completed the first two years of secondary school in Osijek and the final two in Đakovo at the "Josip Juraj Strossmayer" Diocesan Gymnasium, graduating in 1979. He completed his studies in philosophy and theology at the Higher School of Theology in Đakovo in 1986. He was ordained a priest in the Đakovo Cathedral on June 29, 1986. Following his ordination, he served as a parish vicar (chaplain) at the Most Holy Name of Mary parish in the Donji Grad district of Osijek and as secretary of the Institute for the Theological Culture of the Laity in Osijek (1986–1987). In 1987, he went to Rome for postgraduate studies. There, as a resident of the Pontifical Croatian College of St. Jerome, he pursued a specialization in dogmatic theology at the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Gregorian University; he obtained his doctorate in dogmatic theology in 1993 after defending his thesis titled "Man as the Image of God in the Teaching of John Paul II (1978–1988)." Upon returning from his specialization in Rome in 1993, he was appointed professor of dogmatics at the School of Theology in Đakovo—now the Catholic Faculty of Theology of the University of Osijek. He served as prefect of the Theological Seminary in Đakovo (1993–1996), editor-in-chief of *Vjesnik Đakovačke i Srijemske biskupije* (Bulletin of the Diocese of Đakovo and Srijem)—a journal for theological and pastoral orientation (1994–2001)—and general secretary of the Second Diocesan Synod of Đakovo and Srijem (1998–2003). Msgr. Hranić is the author of numerous theological articles published in the *Vjesnik Đakovačke i Srijemske biskupije* (Bulletin of the Diocese of Đakovo and Srijem), the journals *Diacovensia*, *Kateheza*, and *Bogoslovska smotra*, as well as in various anthologies and periodicals. He has frequently appeared as a speaker at professional gatherings, symposia, and projects both at home and abroad, and has often been invited to lead spiritual retreats for laypeople, priests, and religious men and women. Pope John Paul II appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Đakovo and Srijem and Titular Bishop of Gaudiaba on July 5, 2001. He was ordained a bishop on September 22, 2001, in the Đakovo Cathedral by the Bishop of Đakovo and Srijem, Marin Srakić. From October 1, 2001, he served as Vicar General of the Diocese of Đakovo and Srijem (later the Archdiocese of Đakovo-Osijek). He was a member of the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors, chairman of the Archdiocesan Commission for the Construction and Renovation of Church Buildings, and served as chairman or member of various other archdiocesan bodies and commissions. He was particularly dedicated to promoting the implementation of the guidelines of the Second Diocesan Synod, as well as fostering parish pastoral care, catechesis, and the theological-pastoral and spiritual formation of the lay faithful. At the plenary assembly of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE), held from September 27 to 30, 2012, in St. Gallen, he was appointed chairman of the Committee for Catechesis within the CCEE Commission for Catechesis, Schools, and Universities. Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop and Metropolitan of Đakovo-Osijek on April 18, 2013. He was installed in office on July 6, 2013, in the cathedral of St. Petra in Đakovo.