On Sunday, 12 July 2026, a Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Novi Travnik on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the priestly ministry of Monsignor Academician Franjo Topić. The Mass was celebrated by the jubilarian, while the homily was delivered by Cardinal Vinko Puljić.

The celebration brought together a distinguished gathering of guests, relatives, friends, and admirers of Franjo Topić. Among them were representatives of the Pan-European Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Vice-President Academician Mirko Pejanović, Presidency member Jasmina Pašalić, Secretary General Zvonimira Jakić, and Secretary Željko Gala.

Following the Mass, a luncheon was held at the Aviva Restaurant. One of the most moving moments came when Cardinal Vinko Puljić, accompanied by the distinguished opera singer Ivica Šarić, sang the song Tebi majko misli lete, joined by the jubilarian himself.

In my congratulatory address, I emphasised that Academician Franjo Topić is one of the foremost Pan-Europeans of South-Eastern Europe, a man who for decades has tirelessly united faith, culture, scholarship, and the European ideal.

I recalled that he was the founder and first President of the Pan-European Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina, serving from 1995 to 2010, and that he resumed this office in 2024. He is a highly respected member of the Presidency of the International Pan-European Union and has been re-elected on several occasions with the strong support of members from many European countries.

I stressed that his public engagement cannot be understood without reference to his intellectual and spiritual world. It is from this source that his steadfast commitment arises, inspired by a profound belief in a free, united, and Christian-shaped Europe, open to people of all faiths in a spirit of human fraternity and sisterhood. This same vision underlies his enduring commitment to preserving and renewing the Pan-European heritage.

I also noted that, in reflecting on reality, Franjo Topić consistently seeks to look beyond appearances. His work is guided by the search for truth and by the discernment of reality from falsehood and illusion. This aspiration is reflected in his numerous books and scholarly publications, among which his studies of the theology of history of Hans Urs von Balthasar hold a special place. He devoted both his Master's thesis and doctoral dissertation to Balthasar, as well as two books on his thought.

He has realised this philosophy of life through his priestly vocation, his academic career, the Croatian Cultural Society Napredak, the Foundation of Human Fraternity, the Pan-European Union, and his broader public engagement. Throughout these fields of activity, he has consistently united reflection with action, and principles with practical life.

Rather than accepting ideological illusions or uncritically received opinions, he challenges misconceptions and prejudices while seeking to offer a positive vision of the common good. At a time marked by noise and unreliable messages, he bears witness, in both word and deed, to truth, goodness, and human fraternity.

In conclusion, I observed that the priesthood of Franjo Topić has never remained confined to the parish or the academic community. It has become a bridge between people, nations, and cultures, and a lasting witness that European fellowship begins with service to one's neighbour, recognising in every person the dignity of the human person.

Invitation