NAŠI PITOMCI U LORETU
CROATIAN INMATES IN LORETO

Summary/Abstract: The Illyrian College in Loreto (Collegio Illyrico di Loreto) was founded by Pope Gregory XIII to provide education for the clergy of Balkan countries under the rule of Turks. It was open in 1580 in the Italian town of Loreto (Ancona) and run by Jesuits. One cardinal was the patron and the financial support was provided by the town’s Sanctuary of St. Mary. Since the beginning the College had 30 inmates who attended the grammar school and moral theology classes. At their arrival they took an oath that after their studies they would be ordained as priests and go back to their countries. The College was founded for young men from the countries under Turkish rule, but due to the circumstances in their countries they could not come on a regular basis. Thus the majority of inmates were from Dalmatia. When Jesuits tried to extend the College to those who were in the most need of it, the canons of the Sanctuary managed to close it down in 1593. Pope Urban VIII re-established the college under the administration of Jesuits in 1634 for 36 inmates; 12 from Dalmatia and 24 from the countries under Turkish rule.

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