Diocese of Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Name: Banja Luka / Bania Lucen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Vrhbosna

Neighbouring Dioceses: Split–Makarska (↙), Šibenik (↙), Gospić–Senj (←), Sisak (↖), Bjelovar–Križevci (↑), Požega (↗), Đakovo–Osijek (↗), Vrhbosna (↘), Mostar–Duvno (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Bonaventure (July 15)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: December 1

Liturgical Calendar 📅

History

1881.07.05: Established as Diocese of Banjaluka / Banialucen(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Vrhbosna)
1985.12.31: Renamed as Diocese of Banja Luka / Bania Lucen(sis) (Latin)

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (2003.06)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2023.12.08 – ...):

Bishop Željko Majić (63)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Banja Luka (Roman Rite)

Bishop Željko Majić (63)
(2023.12.08 – ...)

Bishop of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Born:	1963.03.28 (Drinovci, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Ordained Priest:	1988.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	2024.03.02

Priest of Mostar–Duvno (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (1988.06.29 – 2023.12.08)

Bishop of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (2023.12.08 – ...)

Bishop Franjo Komarica (80)
(1989.05.15 – 2023.12.08)

Bishop emeritus of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Gospodin je moia snaga i moia pjesma

Born:	1946.02.03 (Novakovici, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Ordained Priest:	1972.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1986.01.06

Priest of Banjaluka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (1972.06.29 – 1985.10.28)

Titular Bishop of Satafis (1985.10.28 – 1989.05.15)

Auxiliary Bishop of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (1985.10.28 – 1989.05.15)

Bishop of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (1989.05.15 – 2023.12.08)

President of Episcopal Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2002 – 2005)

President of Episcopal Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2010.04 – 2015.03.20)

Bishop Alfred Pichler
(1985.12.31 – 1989.05.15)

Nec laudibus nec timore

Born:	1913.12.18 (Oštrelj, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Ordained Priest:	1937.03.13
Consecrated Bishop:	1959.10.18
Died:	1992.05.17 (Mosbach, Germany † 78)

Bishop of Banjaluka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (1959.07.22 – 1985.12.31)

Bishop of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (1985.12.31 – 1989.05.15)

Bishops of Banjaluka (Roman Rite)

Bishop Alfred Pichler
(1959.07.22 – 1985.12.31)

(see above)

Bishop Carlo Celik
(Apostolic Administrator 1951.12.15 – 1958.08.11)

Bishop Josip Stepan Garić, O.F.M.
(1912.12.14 – 1946.06.30)

Born:	1870.10.28 (Vitez, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Ordained Priest:	1893.07.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1913.02.20
Died:	1946.06.30 († 75)

Bishop of Banjaluka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (1912.12.14 – 1946.06.30)

Bishop Mariano Markovic, O.F.M.
(Apostolic Administrator 1884.03.27 – 1912.06.20)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Marko Semren, O.F.M. (71) (2010.07.15 – 2024.07.15)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Franjo Komarica (80) (1985.10.28 – 1989.05.15)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Katedrala Sv. Bonaventure, Banja Luka, Republika Srpska
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (51)

Split–Makarska (↙), Šibenik (↙), Gospić–Senj (←), Sisak (↖), Bjelovar–Križevci (↑), Požega (↗), Đakovo–Osijek (↗), Vrhbosna (↘), Mostar–Duvno (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 16,457 km²

Population: 24,229 Catholics (3.3% of 730,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 48 parishes

Personnel: 61 priests (21 diocesan, 40 religious), 122 religious (40 brothers, 82 sisters), 1 seminarian