Viktor Burić

Viktor Burić was born in Rijeka, Croatia, on 6 September 1897, and was ordained on 27 June 1920.[1] Monsignor Burić served as secretary for Bishop, Mgr. Starcevic.[2]

In 1935 the dioceses of Senj and Modrussa were joined, with Modrussa retaining certain prerogatives. Burič was appointed Bishop of Senj-Modruš, and was consecrated in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Zagreb by the Archbishop of Zagreb, Mgr. Bauer assisted by the Bishop of Veglia. The solemn enthronement in Senj was followed by a Pontifical Mass sung in Old Slovenian, with the Epistle and Gospel in the vernacular Croat. There was a separate ceremony later of enthronement as Bishop of Modrussa.[2] He served as bishop for 33 years.[1]

He was appointed Archbishop of Rijeka in 1969, and served until his retirement in 1974.[1] He died in 1983 at the age of 85.[1]

Viktor Burić supported the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) probably because of its strict espousal of Roman Catholicism as its state religion.[3] Later, he supported the Communist government of Yugoslavia for its friendly stance towards the Vatican.[4] Theologically, he was quite conservative. He suspended liberal Croatian priest, Fr. Tihomir Zovko, for creating a lay group with the purpose of discussing priestly celibacy and democracy inside the Church.[4]

• Bogović, Mile (1997). "Dr. Viktor Burić: U povodu 100. obljetnice rođenja senjskog biskupa i prvoga riječko-senjskog nadbiskupa" (PDF). Senjski zbornik (in Croatian). 24 (1): 283–288. Retrieved 2 February 2021.