Pavelic and Stepinac (1942)

On April 10, 1941, the German Army entered Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. On that very same day Pavelic's Slavko Kvaternik,* leader of the illegal Ustashi movement, proclaimed the Independent State of Croatia and formed the first Ustashi government. Archbishop Stepinac at once sided with the Ustashi traitors and helped them take over the government. On April 12, 1941, while fighting between the Germans and the Yugoslav Army was still going on in the Bosnian mountains -- while millions of patriotic Yugoslavs were still determined to resist the invaders -- Archbishop Stepinac openly called on Kvaternik and congratulated him on his success.

The day before Easter, Slavko Kvaternik visited Archbishop Stepinac. The official organ of the Archbishopric, Katolicki List, reported that the Archbishop had expressed his highest satisfaction to Kvaternik. The Ustashi newspaper Krvatske Novosti, in its Easter issue, underlined the significance of this interchange of visits and pointed out the cordiality with which the Archbishop of Zagreb had greeted the deputy of Dr. Pavelic. This newspaper drew the conclusion that the foundation was laid for intimate cooperation between the Ustashi movement and the highest representative of the Roman Catholic Church in the Croatian State.

What other conclusion could the lower clergy reach, despite the knowledge that both Kvaternik and Pavelic had been sentenced to death in absentia for their roles in the murder of King Alexander and French Foreign Minister Barthou? On April 13, 1941, Ante Pavelic reached Zagreb from Italy. On the very next day -- the Royal Yugoslav Army was still fighting -- Archbishop Stepinac paid him a visit, to greet him and voice his congratulations.

Two weeks later, on April 28, 1941, Archbishop Stepinac issued a pastoral letter asking the clergy to respond without hesitation to his call that they take part in the exalted work of defending and improving the Independent State of Croatia. He emphasized his deep conviction that the efforts of the Poglavnik would meet with complete understanding and support, basing this confidence on his acquaintance with the men now directing the destiny of the Croatian people. He believed and hoped, his letter said, that in the resurrected Croatian State the Church would be able in complete freedom to preach "the invincible principles of eternal truth and justice." The pastoral letter, which was also published in Nedelja and Katolicki List on April 28, 1941, declared:

"Honorable brethren, there is not one among you who did not recently witness the most significant event in the life of the Croatian people among whom we act as herald of Christ's word. These are events that fulfilled the long-dreamed of and desired ideal of our people.... You should therefore readily answer my call to do elevated work for the safeguarding and the progress of the Independent State of Croatia.... Prove yourselves, honorable brethren, and fulfill now your duty toward the young Independent State of Croatia."

The Ustashi section of the clergy, which had been active in terrorism even before the war, did not need this circular to tell them how to act. But a great part of the Catholic clergy, not earlier involved in the Ustashi movement, accepted the circular as a directive, an order from their most responsible chief; and in accordance with its exhortations placed themselves at the disposal of the Ustashi. Answering the call of the Primate of the church, many priests then engaged actively in supporting the Ustashi regime.

On Easter Day, 1941, Archbishop Stepinac announced from the pulpit in the Cathedral of Zagreb the establishment of the Independent State of Croatia. Thus in the church itself he celebrated high treason against Yugoslavia and identified himself with the traitors, the attempted destroyers of his own country. The Archbishop ended his sermon with these words:

"Jesus, our resurrected Saviour! ... I pray Thee tell the Croatian people, who are now facing a new era of life, what you told the apostles after the Resurrection: Peace be with you!

The foregoing quotation is from the official organ of the Archbishopric of Zagreb, Katolicki List, No. 16, 1941. In the same issue of this newspaper is a detailed review of the events that transpired from April 10 up to the first speech delivered by Dr. Ante Pavelic on April 15, 1941. The official journal of the Archbishop of Zagreb reported in detail the rapid events leading to the collapse of Yugoslavia, the role of the Ustashi and their supporters and, finally, the great contributions of Mussolini and Hitler. Pavelic's, Hitler's and Mussolini's telegrams and the names of the members of the first Ustashi government were published. There was also a leading article entitled "The Independent State of Croatia." This article could not have been published without the authorization of Archbishop Stepinac. The article concludes that the Independent State of Croatia was created by All-Powerful Providence in the year of the national jubilee. The Catholic Church prays the Lord to enable the Croatian people to find in it the fulfillment of their justified aspirations,

"convinced that all conditions are present for the Fulfillment of the word of God: 'Blessed are the people whose Master is God.' With these desires and prayers we enter the Independent State of Croatia."

In this manner the official organ of the Archbishop of Zagreb, Katolicki List, expressed its approval of the Ustashi regime. Thus the intimate contacts between the highest members of the clergy and the Ustashi plotters were made immediately clear for all to see.

The ties between the Ustashi regime and high authorities of the Catholic Church in Croatia were further revealed in that immediately after publication of the pastoral letter by Archbishop Stepinac Katolicki List published "The Principles of the Government of the Independent State of Croatia and of the Ustashi Movement," to acquaint its readers with the basic directives regulating the life of every individual in the new puppet state. In line with these directives Croatia soon was converted into a virtual concentration camp.

Recognition of the Ustashi regime by Archbishop Stepinac was announced to the people by having the pastoral letter read in every Croatian parish. It was also read over the radio. The impression This had on the people, and especially on the clergy, was indicated by Father Peter Glavas, who, during his trial after liberation, said in his own defense:

"The order given by Archbishop Stepinac to the people over the radio to fight for the Independent State of Croatia constituted a political directive to the clergy."

On June 28, 1941, Archbishop Stepinac at the head of the other bishops greeted Pavelic and promised him their sincere and loyal cooperation. On that occasion Stepinac told Pavelic:

"And while we greet you cordially as head of the Independent State of Croatia, we implore the Lord of the State to give his divine blessings to the leader of our people."

The Catholic bishops, with Archbishop Stepinac at their head, competed with one another in manifestations of loyalty to the Ustashi puppet state and to Ante Pavelic. The Archbishop of Vrhbosna, Ivan Saric, enthusiastically greeted Pavelic's access to power. In April, 1941, he published the poem" in which the Ustashi traitor was praised as the hero of the Croatian people. Like Stepinac, Archbishop Saric was, from the beginning, in closest collaboration with leading Ustashi officials and commanding generals of the Wehrmacht. When the traitor Kvaternik and the German General Gleis von Horstenan visited Archbishop Saric, the latter praised the Ustashi revolution and, finally, blessed Kvaternik and the Ustashi Army.

Complete solidarity with the new puppet state and with Pavelic was announced by the Bishop of Split, Dr. Kvirin Bonefacic, head of the oldest Dalmatian diocese. In April, 1941, he sent a long telegram to Pavelic in which he said he was certain that he also expressed the sentiments of the other three Dalmatian bishops in promising to cooperate with the chieftain wholeheartedly. Concluding, he asked the Lord to bless Pavelic and to crown his great work with success for the happiness and salvation of the Croatian people. In a telegram to Kvaternik he greeted the military leader and all members of the Ustashi government. These telegrams were published in the Split newspaper Novo Doba (New Era) of April 18, 1941. The Novo Doba of April 23, 1941, carried the text of a long message sent to Pavelic by the Bishop of Hvar, Miho Pusic. In this message the Bishop declared that the great leader Pavelic was the first fighter for national resurrection and expressed the deep gratitude, devotion and loyalty of the Catholic Church. The Bishop also implored the Almighty to bestow his blessings abundantly on Pavelic.

The Bishop of Djakovo, Dr. Antun Aksamovic, together with his entire consistory, greeted the return of the quisling Pavelic with the following message:

"Into the hands of the great son of the Croatian people, the hero of our race, the Liberator and Creator of the Independent State of Croatia, sovereign and leader, Dr. Pavelic, we place our sacred oath that we will remain wide awake as guardians of national consciousness on the eastern ramparts of our dear fatherland.... May divine blessing accompany our proud hero and wise leader Ante Pavelic."

On June 25, 1941, Bishop Dr. Buric officiated at the installation of the Ustashi Governor Miroslav Susic of the Province of Vinodol. Novi List of June 27, 1941, reported that on this occasion the Bishop gave a luncheon for the Governor and for Italian General Fiorensoli. In his speech the Bishop assured the Ustashi government and its leader that they could count on fullest support of the Catholic Church. Katolicki Tjednik of June 15, 1941, published the Bishop's pastoral letter in which He called upon the clergy and the people to give solemn thanks to God that they had lived to see the Independent State of Croatia established. There are many more such messages, speeches and articles. When the entire Episcopate was assembled in Zagreb on June 25 and 26, 1941, the conference gave Ante Pavelic an ovation and Archbishop Stepinac promised the quisling government the sincere and loyal cooperation of the Roman Hierarchy. Reports of the Bishops Conference and of the reception by Pavelic appeared in the newspaper Nedelja (Sunday) and in Katolicki Tjednik, both of July 6, 1941.

The fanatical Ustashi spirit of the hierarchy found further expression in a speech which Archbishop Ivan Saric delivered in the presence of German and Ustashi officers. In this talk Pavelic was praised as "a wonderful leader who can serve as an example to us in every way." The Archbishop concluded:

"Commend yourselves to our beloved Lord with whose help we will gain the final victory together with our dear friends and allies. Therefore, with faith in God and with devotion to our beloved leader, we must always be ready to die for the Chief and for the Fatherland." (Novi List, November 10, 1942)

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THE CASE OF ARCHBISHOP STEPINAC

Croatian Holocaust

Papacy Uncovered