Gregorij Rožman was a Slovenian Roman Catholic prelate. Between 1930 and 1959, he served as bishop of the Diocese of Ljubljana. He may be best-remembered for his controversial role during World War II. Rožman was an ardent anti-communist and opposed the Liberation Front of the Slovene People and the Partisan forces because they were led by the Communist party. He established relations with both the fascist and Nazi occupying powers, issued proclamations of support for the occupying authorities, and supported armed collaborationist forces organized by the fascist and Nazi occupiers. The Yugoslav Communist government convicted him in absentia in August 1946 of treason for collaborating with the Nazis against the Yugoslav resistance. In 2009, his conviction was annulled on procedural grounds.
Gregorij Rožman
From left: Ignacij Nadrah, Fascist High Commissioner Emilio Grazioli, Bishop Rožman and Franc Kimovec, 22 April 1941
Leon Rupnik, Bishop Gregorij Rožman, and SS-General Erwin Rösener
Bishop Rožman, SS-General Erwin Rösener and Leon Rupnik review Home Guard troops in front of Ursuline Church, Ljubljana, after the second Home Guard oath of allegiance, on 30 January 1945.
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ljubljana
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Ljubljana is a Latin ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Slovenia.
The Bishop's Palace at Cyril and Methodius Square. In the background, Ljubljana Cathedral.