From November 7 to 9, 2026, the Church of St. Francis in Cres, Croatia, hosted “Friar Placido Days,” dedicated to the Venerable Servant of God Friar Placido CORTESE, a Conventual Franciscan friar who was born in Cres. He gave his life during World War II helping people flee persecution.
The evening program for Friar Placido Days included the Rosary, Mass, and time for reflection. There was also a presentation of an illustrated children’s book entitled The Boy Who Wanted to Become a Saint. It was created by students at the Frane Petrić Elementary School in Cres. A second book was also presented, entitled Frane DOBROVIĆ – Notes and Fragments on the History of the Church and Friary of St. Francis in Cres. It was edited and translated by Friar Ljudevit MARAČIĆ.
Friar Ljudevit MARAČIĆ, Friar Josip BLAŽEVIĆ, Guardian of the friary in Cres, and Friar Miljenko HONTIĆ, Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Jerome in Croatia, presided over the Masses.
In his homily, Friar Miljenko recalled how Friar Placido bore witness to the Gospel both through his priestly and religious life and through his courageous efforts to help Jews and others who were being persecuted during the war. On the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, he highlighted that Friar Placido was ordained to the priesthood in that very basilica on July 6, 1930. The Minister Provincial emphasized that one’s fidelity to God and the Church must remain steadfast whether circumstances are favorable or adverse. He encouraged the faithful to keep their hearts open to God’s presence and to follow the example of courage, faith, and love for one’s neighbor set by Friar Placido.
Friar Placido CORTESE was born in Cres on March 7, 1907. He spent much of his life at the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, where he also spread the Gospel as editor of the magazine Il Messaggero di Sant’Antonio. The Gestapo arrested him in October 1944 and took him to Trieste, where he died in early November of that year as a result of the torture he endured. He never revealed the names of his collaborators or the people he had helped. On August 30, 2021, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the heroic virtues of Friar Placido, thereby declaring him Venerable.
Friar Zlatko VLAHEK, Provincial Secretary
