Croatian Armed Forces, Police and Veterans Conduct 12th Provincial Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Sinj

On 31 July 2026, thousands of members of the Croatian Armed Forces, police, war veterans, firefighters, civil‑protection units and other charitable organisations gathered at the shrine of Our Lady of Sinj in Sinj, Croatia, for the twelfth provincial pilgrimage. The event began with a gathering at the Franciscan monastery, followed by a solemn procession at 10 a.m. that moved through the town to the basilica of the miraculous Our Lady of Sinj. The march was accompanied by the Armed Forces orchestra and the navy choir “Sveti Juraj”.

Key officials took part, including General‑Bojnik Boris Zdilar, chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, fire‑chief Slavko Tucaković, and the military ordinary Monsignor Jure Bogdan, who celebrated the Mass. The pilgrimage was highlighted as part of the Jubilee year marking the 800th anniversary of St Francis of Assisi, underscoring themes of humility, service and community.

The gathering reflected a long‑standing tradition of military and civil‑service participation in religious ceremonies, reinforcing ties between Croatia’s defence institutions and its cultural‑religious heritage.