Ratko Peric
Encyclopedia
Mons. Ratko Perić is the current Bishop of Mostar-Duvno
and Apostolic Administrator of Trebinje-Mrkan
.
Ratko Perić was born in the village of Tuk in the Rovišće
municipality, near Bjelovar
in Croatia
. After studies in Zagreb
and Rome
, he was ordained priest on 29 June 1969 in Prisoje. He received doctorate from the Pontifical Urbaniana University
in 1971, and then taught at Catholic seminaries in Sarajevo
, Zagreb, and for several years at the Gregoriana
in Rome.
He was rector of the Pontifical Croatian College of St. Jerome
in Rome, 1980 - 1992.
Pope John Paul II named him coadjutor bishop of Mostar-Duvno on 29 May 1992. Since the Mostar Cathedral was heavily damaged in the ongoing war, Bishop Ratko's consecration took place in Neum
, on 14 September 1992. He was consecrated by Franjo Cardinal Kuharić
, Archbishop of Zagreb, assisted by Archbishop Josip Uhač, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
and Pavao Žanić
, bishop of Mostar-Duvno.
Following Bishop Žanić's retirement, Mons. Perić succeeded him as Bishop of Mostar-Duvno on 24 July 1993. He is ex officio permanent apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Trebinje-Mrkan.
Ratko Perić was, like Pavao Žanić, against the Marian apparitions
of Međugorje. Bishop Perić wrote a personal letter declaring his position to be that nothing supernatural was occurring in Međugorje (the third designation). But in order not to lead the faithful into believing that his statement was an official Church position, Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, the Secretary to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
that was presided over at the time by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, wrote in a letter to the bishop of Saint-Denis-de-La Réunion that "what Bishop Perić said in his letter … is and remains his personal opinion."
Roman Catholic Diocese of Mostar-Duvno
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Mostar-Duvno is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church encompassing Herzegovina. The diocese, as well as the Franciscan Province, is centred in the city of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was formed on July 5, 1881...
and Apostolic Administrator of Trebinje-Mrkan
Roman Catholic Diocese of Trebinje-Mrkan
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Trebinje-Mrkan is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in eastern Herzegovina.It is the oldest and smallest Roman Catholic diocese of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The diocese was formed sometime before the year 1022...
.
Ratko Perić was born in the village of Tuk in the Rovišće
Rovišce
Rovišće is a village and a municipality in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Croatia. There are 5,262 inhabitants, 1,272 in the village itself, of which 97% are Croats.-References:...
municipality, near Bjelovar
Bjelovar
Bjelovar is a city in central Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. During the 2001 census, there were 41,869 inhabitants, 90.51% which are Croats....
in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. After studies in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, he was ordained priest on 29 June 1969 in Prisoje. He received doctorate from the Pontifical Urbaniana University
Pontifical Urbaniana University
The Pontifical Urbaniana University or Pontifical Urban University is a pontifical university under the authority of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.-History:...
in 1971, and then taught at Catholic seminaries in Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, Zagreb, and for several years at the Gregoriana
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
in Rome.
He was rector of the Pontifical Croatian College of St. Jerome
Pontifical Croatian College of St. Jerome
The Pontifical Croatian College of St. Jerome, in Italian the Pontificio Collegio Croato Di San Girolamo a Roma, is a Roman Catholic college, church and a society in the city of Rome intended for the schooling of Croatian clerics. It is named after Saint Jerome...
in Rome, 1980 - 1992.
Pope John Paul II named him coadjutor bishop of Mostar-Duvno on 29 May 1992. Since the Mostar Cathedral was heavily damaged in the ongoing war, Bishop Ratko's consecration took place in Neum
Neum
Neum is the only coastal town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It comprises of coastline, the country's only access to the Adriatic Sea. As of 2009, municipal population was of 4,605 and the one of Neum main town was of 4,268 .-Features:Neum has steep hills, sandy beaches, and several large tourist...
, on 14 September 1992. He was consecrated by Franjo Cardinal Kuharić
Franjo Kuharic
Franjo Kuharić was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.He was ordained in 1945 and became a bishop in 1964. He was appointed Archbishop of Zagreb in 1970. In 1983 he was made a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II...
, Archbishop of Zagreb, assisted by Archbishop Josip Uhač, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
and Pavao Žanić
Pavao Žanić
Pavao Žanić was the bishop of Mostar-Duvno in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1980 to 1993. A leading critic of the alleged apparitions at Međugorje, he was the local ordinary in 1981 when the apparitions began.-Biography:...
, bishop of Mostar-Duvno.
Following Bishop Žanić's retirement, Mons. Perić succeeded him as Bishop of Mostar-Duvno on 24 July 1993. He is ex officio permanent apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Trebinje-Mrkan.
Ratko Perić was, like Pavao Žanić, against the Marian apparitions
Marian apparitions
A Marian apparition is an event in which the Blessed Virgin Mary is believed to have supernaturally appeared to one or more people. They are often given names based on the town in which they were reported, or on the sobriquet which was given to Mary on the occasion of the apparition...
of Međugorje. Bishop Perić wrote a personal letter declaring his position to be that nothing supernatural was occurring in Međugorje (the third designation). But in order not to lead the faithful into believing that his statement was an official Church position, Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, the Secretary to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , previously known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition , and after 1904 called the Supreme...
that was presided over at the time by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, wrote in a letter to the bishop of Saint-Denis-de-La Réunion that "what Bishop Perić said in his letter … is and remains his personal opinion."