Cardinal Josip Bozanic, Archbishop of Zagreb, was born on March 20, 1949 in Rijeka, Croatia. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1975 and holds a licentiate in dogmatic theology and in canon law.

Cardinal Bozani? served as chancellor and as vicar general of the Curia of Krk. He was lecturer of dogmatic theology and of canon law at the Theological Institute of Rijeka.

On May 10, 1989 he was appointed  Coadjutor Bishop of Krk and was ordained on June 25, 1989. On November 14, 1989 he became Bishop.

He has served as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Rijeka-Senj. Within the Bishops’ Conference of Croatia, he served as President of the Commission for the Laity and as member of the Permanent Council, and since 1996 has been President of the Commission for Relations with the State. In 1997, he was elected President of the Bishops’ Conference of Croatia and was reconfirmed in 2002.

In 2001 Cardinal Bozani? became Vice-President of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE), a position he continues to hold.

On July 5, 1997 he was nominated Archbishop of Zagreb.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the consistory of October 21, 2003, of the Title of S. Girolamo dei Croati (St. Jerome of the Croatians).

Member of:

• Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments;
  Pontifical Council for the Laity;
• Special Council for Europe of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.