date: 18.03.2007.
Mons. Frane Franić, retired Archbishop and Primate of Split-Makarska died on the 17th of March, 2007, in the Clinical Hospital in Split.
As a professor of dogmatic theology he became an active participant in the Second Vatican Council, in addition to his membership of various other official commissions of that Council. He had served as a bishop in difficult historical times. With unwavering determination, he strengthened both fidelity to the Gospel and loyalty to the Holy Father, while at the same time he promoted ecumenism and dialogue in society as a whole.
Mons. Franic’s burial was planned for March 21st in St. Peter’s Pro-cathedral in Split.
Mons. Frane Franić had visited Medjugorje on several occasions. His statement relating to Medjugorje is widely known: “The Queen of Peace has done more in the 6 years of her apparitions than all the bishops have done in 40 years of pastoral work in our dioceses.”
In an interview given to "Kulturni Obzor" in 1999 he said: "Marian shrines are numerous in all catholic countries. The most famous of them, and those most visited today, are Lourdes, Fatima and Medjugorje. After some personal experiences of my own, it was not difficult for me to recognize the presence of Our Lady in Medjugorje, and she is speaking for 18 years now through the visionaries that she has chosen, nor was it difficult for me to recognize the authenticity of these Marian apparitions as a result.” (Večernji list, str. 13, br. 250., Zagreb 14. 2. 1999.)
