Karel Gržan

Friar Karel Gržan has an MA in theology and a PhD in literary sciences. At the age of 18, he entered the order of the Franciscan Capuchins, because he believed in the legacy of Saint Francis and wanted to dedicate his life to helping the poor and the helpless. As a priest and chaplain, he did his best to react upon the distress of his times and of the people he came across. He also dealt with the problems of drug addiction and founded Don Pierino’s commune for male and later on also for female addicts, the first and only Slovenian girl community of the kind. After his PhD in

literary sciences, he has published numerous books. He constantly travels throughout Slovenia, lecturing on human relations, forgiveness and on how to love a human being in his or her entirety.

Portrait: Miran Juršič, 2023