Relics of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac return to Zagreb Cathedral

(Photo credit: Tiskovnog ureda Zagrebačke nadbiskupije)

The return of the relics of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac to Zagreb Cathedral was marked on Sunday by a Mass led by Zagreb Archbishop Dražen Kutleša.

The relics began their journey early in the morning from Krašić, where they had been venerated for exactly one month.

On their way to Zagreb, they stopped at the Carmelite monastery in Brezovica, a place of deep spiritual and historical significance founded by Stepinac himself in the 1940s.

Large numbers of faithful gathered in silence and prayer outside Zagreb Cathedral, patiently awaiting the arrival of the relics from Krašić.

Transported in a specially secured vehicle under police escort, the relics arrived shortly before 10 a.m.

(Photo credit: Tiskovnog ureda Zagrebačke nadbiskupije)

As they were brought out in front of the cathedral, Archbishop Kutleša offered a short blessing before they were carried inside. The moment was marked by reverence and deep emotion among those present.

A solemn Mass was celebrated in the cathedral, led by Archbishop Kutleša, marking both the return of the relics and the conclusion of the Jubilee Year.

(Photo credit: Tiskovnog ureda Zagrebačke nadbiskupije)

“At the end of this Jubilee Year, let us thank God for all that He has done, and for all that He will continue to do through us,” Kutleša said in his homily.

(Photo credit: Tiskovnog ureda Zagrebačke nadbiskupije)

“May this cathedral, now undergoing renewal, be a symbol of a Church that is constantly renewing itself and does not give up in the face of wounds, knowing that God’s strength works precisely through weakness. May this resting place of our Blessed Alojzije once again become a space of gathering, prayer and unity.”

Earlier that morning, the relics were farewelled in Krašić during a dawn Mass at the Church of the Holy Trinity. Over the past month, more than 10,000 pilgrims had come to venerate the relics, with the church remaining open day and night.

(Photo credit: Tiskovnog ureda Zagrebačke nadbiskupije)

Vice-postulator for the causes of beatification and canonisation for the Archdiocese of Zagreb, Tomislav Hačko, highlighted the symbolic importance of the relics’ return taking place on the Feast of the Holy Family.

(Photo credit: Tiskovnog ureda Zagrebačke nadbiskupije)

“The image of the Holy Family was not only present at the entrance to Stepinac’s birthplace and chapel, but also in his family home,” Hačko said. “It did not just decorate the house artistically,  it shaped the family itself. In such an environment, not only a saint could be formed, but also a martyr,” he told HRT.

(Photo credit: Tiskovnog ureda Zagrebačke nadbiskupije)

Faithful attending the Mass in Krašić described the occasion as unforgettable and deeply moving, calling it a powerful sign of faith, gratitude and hope.

(Photo credit: Tiskovnog ureda Zagrebačke nadbiskupije)

Pilgrims described the day as historic for both Croatia and Brezovica, emphasising the strong connection between the Carmelite monastery and Blessed Stepinac.

The return of the relics to Zagreb Cathedral restores the final resting place of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac as a focal point of prayer, remembrance and unity, reinforcing his enduring significance for the Church and for Croatia.