A Sisters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul sister in Zagreb is recovering in hospital after being stabbed several times on Friday, in what early reports suggest may have been a religiously motivated assault. Croatian Police have opened a criminal investigation, and Church officials confirm the nun is stable and expected to recover.
The attack took place on 28 November in the residential district of Malešnica, specifically in the neighbourhood of Malešnica - Malešnica, Zagreb Malešnica, to distinguish it from broader district references. According to her congregation, the sister was struck in the abdomen with a sharp object, and managed to walk back to her convent before being taken for emergency treatment at the Sisters of Charity University Hospital Centre. Paramedics admitted her at approximately 3pm with a wound inflicted by a sharp object in the area of the abdominal wall. Hospital representatives said she had arrived accompanied by someone known to her, and confirmed that her injuries were not life threatening.
Local media have reported that the assailant may have shouted religious slogans, including the Arabic phrase “Allahu akbar”, during the attack, according to unverified eyewitness claims. Marin Vlahović, who first disclosed the incident, said a reliable source informed him that a “nun had been attacked with a knife in Zagreb” and that the attacker shouted religious slogans. Authorities have not yet confirmed the motive. Catholic Information Agency and the Catholic Religious Network both reported that investigators are examining whether the attack included “elements of religious or ideological motivation”.
The victim was later identified as Sister Marija Tatjana Zrno, aged 34. Born in Šujica, she is a religion teacher at a Zagreb primary school and known for her pastoral work with young people, and her love of football. Her comments on the parallels between faith and sport drew international attention during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, when ACI Prensa and Catholic News Agency published an interview with her.
Speaking about the demands of the spiritual life, she said, “they are epic battles”, comparing them to the tenacity required of professional athletes. She added, “Whoever wants to succeed must push his limits.” She drew further parallels, noting the importance of commitment when one does not feel ready, in both sporting training and prayer: “in sport you train when you feel you cannot, and in the spiritual life you pray more when it seems you can do less.” She emphasised that it is often the hardest moment that separates fulfilled from unfulfilled potential. “It’s this moment that makes the difference between realised and unrealised potentials, both in football and in religion”, she said.
The sister also took part in the 2022 campaign rosary for the vatreni, alongside Fr Ivan Dominik Iličić. The initiative encouraged nationwide prayer for the Croatia national football team during the World Cup. She recalled that “young and old people from all over Croatia participated”, marking what she considered a revival of popular devotion surrounding major national moments.
During the same tournament, the grandmother of Croatia national team’s Ivan Perišić, recorded a Hail Mary before Croatia’s round of sixteen match against Japan national football team against Japan. In that match, Perišić scored the equalising goal that took the team to extra time and penalties, which they eventually won.
Sister Marija has also spoken about the public witness of faith among members of the Croatian squad. She noted that many players “testify openly about belonging to the Catholic Church”, citing acts of devotion such as captain Luka Modrić wearing kneepads bearing religious images, and goalkeeper Dominik Livaković praying before penalty shootouts. She pointed to what she described as their conduct following major victories: players “stood out for their humanity after achieving hard victories, consoled and encouraged opposing players, and did not humiliate their opponents.”
The investigation remains ongoing. Catholic leaders in Croatia have asked the faithful to pray for the sister’s recovery, whilst authorities work to determine the motive of the attack.
