Saint Leopold Mandic

Leopold Bogdan Mandic was born in Herceg Novi (Boka Kotorska) in Montenegro and his ancestors were from Bosnia, from where they went after the Turks invasion to Zakučac (near the town of Omiš) and afterwards brought his family to Boka Kotorska. Most of his life Leopold spent in Italy but never took Italian citizenship what indicated his connection with Croatia and the Croatian people. Recently, the students from my school and me attended a competition that was held in Omiš and we visited the village where Leoplod was born. The old stone houses and dry stone walls were very interesting to see. Leoplod is well known of his understanding and pacinet confessions which lasted for over 40 years in the Chapel Monastery in Padoa, where he died and was buried. He was pronounced a saint in 1983 by Pope John Paul II. The day of his birth, May 12, is celebrated each year in churches all over Croatia. Leopold was such a small man, only 135 cm high, but a great man indeed.