Alojzije Stepinac: 80 years since arrest and imprisonment in Lepoglava

Commemorations are being held in Lepoglava, Croatia, marking the 80th anniversary of the arrest and imprisonment of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac. The Archbishop of Zagreb was arrested on September 19, 1946, following a trial that resulted in a 16-year prison sentence.

Stepinac was sent to the prison in Lepoglava, where he celebrated his first mass in captivity at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. The historical events surrounding his imprisonment remain a significant point of reflection in the region, highlighting the intersection of religious devotion and political struggle during the post-war period in Yugoslavia.

Stepinac's legal proceedings were highly controversial; he was charged with various offenses including collaboration with the occupying regime and attempting to undermine the new order. The Vatican condemned the Yugoslav authorities' actions, leading to a rupture in diplomatic relations. Stepinac remained in prison until being moved to Krašić in 1951, eventually passing away in 1960.