Franjo Kuharić was a prominent Croatian prelate who served as the Archbishop of Zagreb from 1970 to 1997. Appointed as a cardinal in 1983, he became a significant moral authority during the Yugoslav wars, where he advocated for peace, forgiveness, and the protection of human rights. Known as the "Rock of Croatia," he also played a key role in the efforts to rehabilitate the reputation of his mentor, Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac. His leadership spanned through the Second Vatican Council and periods of intense national conflict.