Marijan Šunjić (bishop)

Marijan Šunjić (Croatian pronunciation: [mârijaːn ʃǔːɲitɕ]; 7 January 1798 – 28 September 1860) was a Bosnian Franciscan, Catholic bishop, Apostolic Vicar in Bosnia, writer, linguist; scientific, cultural and political worker.

If we take into account his education, his broad views, scientific and cultural work, we can say with certainty that he was one of the most prominent figures in the history of the Franciscan Province of Bosna Srebrena, and not only in his lifetime.

When he returned to Bosnia, he was at first engaged in pastoral work as a parish vicar in Kupres and Mokronoge near Duvno (1831), afterwards in Orašje near Travnik (1832).

During the conflict with Bishop Rafo Barišić, in 1843 he was, along with many other prominent Franciscans, sentenced to be expelled to Italy, but that decision, due to changed circumstances, was never realized.

In 1851 he submitted a plea to the Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph I, urging him to take concrete action for the improvement of the hard situation Bosnian Catholics and Franciscans were in.

In conversation with the Pope, bishops, priests, the Emperor, the Sultan, the Vizier, or ordinary people he was always elegant and dignified, mild and pleasant, simple and humble.