Patriarch Porfirije faces backlash over Ratko Mladić funeral

The public image of Porfirije Perić, the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, has undergone a significant shift from a perceived moderate intellectual to a figure associated with hardline nationalism. Between 2014 and 2021, during his time as the Metropolitan of Zagreb and Ljubljana, he was known for hosting influential social salons in Zagreb. These gatherings included politicians, academics, journalists, and artists, fostering an image of a cosmopolitan, peace-building theologian who engaged with Croatia’s liberal and urban circles.

This reputation has been challenged by his recent actions, most notably his leadership of a funeral service for Ratko Mladić, a convicted war criminal. During the ceremony, the Patriarch used religious language to frame Mladić as a defender of his people rather than a perpetrator of genocide and crimes against humanity. Critics argue this marks a departure from his former role as a bridge-builder, suggesting his previous urban and intellectual persona masked a deeper alignment with nationalist ideologies.