Petar Čule

World War II

After the death of bishop Alojzije Mišić, Čule was nominated a bishop of Mostar-Duvno and apostolic administrator of Trebinje-Mrkan on 15 April 1942, and his nomination was proclaimed at the beginning of June. The officials of the Independent State of Croatia, a Nazi puppet state, opposed his nomination. Minister of Justice Mirko Puk sent letters on 3 June 1942 to "all vicars of the Diocese of Mostar", ascertaining them of a protest against bishop's nomination "without questioning or consulting, even without knowledge of the Croatian State Government". He pointed out that the government cannot acknowledge such a nomination on its territory, and it will thus take its stand in defence of the state's sovereignty in all relations pro foro civili". By introducing politics into church matters, the Poglavnik Ante Pavelić fell into excommunication in advance according to the Cannon Law no. 2333, a reason why the government backed up from this matter.^[1]

Petar Čule was ordained a bishop on 4 October 1942 in the Church of Saint Peter and Paul. His was consecrated by archbishops Ivan Šarić and Aloysius Stepinac along with abbot Ramiro Marcone, a delegate of the Holy See in Croatia. The government officials did not attend the ordination. His coat of arms pointed out the heart of Jesus and below it the city of Mostar with Stari Most, an Ottoman historic bridge, with motto "Adveniat regnum tuum" (Thy kingdom come).^[1]

Communist Yugoslavia

At the end of the war, in May 1945, the communist partisans massacred 28 Catholic priests from the Široki Brijeg Franciscan Monastery near Macelj. Bishop informed the Conference of Bishops held in Zagreb between 17 and 21 September 1945 about the massacre. The bishops issued a pastoral letter, later characterised as one of the fiercest oppositions to atheism and communism. In the letter, the bishops mentioned the massacre of priests from Široki Brijeg.^[1]

Because of his opposition to the communist regime, Bishop Čule was detained in April 1948.^[1] He was tired before the Municipal Court of Mostar in a show trial held in a cinema. He was accused among number of priests and nuns. Among other accusations, Bishop Čule was accused of hiding a "renegade" Neđo Markotić, who actually died a day before, and for attributing Katyn massacre to the Soviet Red Army. The sentenca was made on 18 July 1948, and Bishop Čule was sentenced to 11 and half years in prison, losing his civil rights for three years. He did not appeal.^[2] He served his sentence in Zenica. In April 1951, Bishop Čule and other prisoners were left to be struck by a freight train during transport of prisoners from Zenica to Srijemska Mitrovica. Bishop Čule survived with fractures. He was conditionally released in autumn 1955. As of early 1958, he again assumed administration of the two dioceses.^[1]

After the Bishop had been sentenced, the communist authorities expropriated a lot and material intended for the construction of a cathedral. The cathedral was ought to be built in accordance with the plan of the renowned sculptor and architect Ivan Meštrović.^[2]

A notable communist politician and prime minister of Yugoslavia Džemal Bijedić later visited Bishop Čule in his residence. In a conversation with the Bishop, Bijedić said that the charge against him was a "directive and order". He acknowledge that the process against the Bishop was a show trial and unjust. For the NIN weekly on 22 November 1981, Bijedić stated that Bishop Petar Čule was not guilty.^[2]

Bishop Čule participated at the Second Vatican Council held between 1962 and 1965, and in certain special commissions. During his tenure, number of priests in his dioceses tripled from thirty to ninety. He also increased number of parishes in the dioceses and built and consecrated a number of churches. After thirty years of building, the Cathedral of Mary, Mother of the Church in Mostar was also finished in 1980. In the same year, on 14 September Bishop Čule retired and Pope John Paul II named him a titular archbishop of Giufi in present-day Tunisia. He died in Mostar and is buried in the Crypt of Saint Joseph in the Mostar cathedral.^[1]