Ladislav Nemet was born on 7 September 1956 in Odžaci, in the diocese of Subotica, Serbia, into an ethnic Hungarian family. He entered the Society of the Divine Word in 1977 and was ordained a priest on 1 May 1983. He obtained a doctorate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Before becoming a bishop he served as a missionary in the Philippines, lectured in Poland, Austria and Croatia, collaborated with the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in Vienna, was provincial of the Hungarian Province of his order, and was secretary general of the Hungarian Bishops' Conference.
He was appointed Bishop of Zrenjanin on 23 April 2008 and received episcopal ordination on 5 July 2008. In Zrenjanin he reorganised a scattered, ageing diocese and led a diocesan synod from 2017 to 2021. He has been president of the International Episcopal Conference of Saints Cyril and Methodius since 2016 (re-elected for a second term in 2021, per the Holy See bio) and is a vice-president of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE).
On 5 November 2022 Pope Francis appointed him metropolitan Archbishop of Belgrade, and he was installed on 10 December 2022. Pope Francis created him a cardinal in the consistory of 7 December 2024, assigning him the titular church of S. Maria Stella Maris; he is the first cardinal from Serbia. He is a member of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and of the Council for the Economy, and he participated as a cardinal elector in the 2025 papal conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.
Consequential Quotes
We have four countries with differing legislation: only in Serbia do we have the right to teach religion in elementary and secondary schools.
In Montenegro and Macedonia, it is difficult for the Catholic Church to maintain relations with the official Orthodox Church and even with two Orthodox churches, which are growing with large state aid.
When I started to understand what had happened – I’m not ashamed to say – I started to cry. I was very touched. This does not happen to people every day.
I am a member of the diverse Catholic Church, which does not exclude or stigmatize, but values diversity.
Everyone has a right to a decent funeral — and if you're styled by some as a national hero, it's hardly going to be left to some simple parish priest.
While people know about his crimes, they seem less aware of tragic events in his personal life.
Major Works & Initiatives
President, International Episcopal Conference of Saints Cyril and Methodius
President of the conference bringing together the bishops of Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro; elected in 2016 and re-elected for a second term in 2021.
Diocesan synod of Zrenjanin
As Bishop of Zrenjanin he organised a diocesan synod, held from 2017 to 2021 — an experience he later cited when Pope Francis launched the synodal renewal of the universal Church.
Vice-president, Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE)
Elected a vice-president of the CCEE in 2021; he has said the council's greatest challenge is to give Europe a new spirituality.
Member, Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity
Named a member of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity in 2025; the Holy See bio also lists him as a member of the Council for the Economy.
Controversies
On the record
No significant public controversies reported.
Sources
- Holy See Press Office — biography
- Wikipedia
- ZENIT — Pope meets bishops of Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Kosovo in ad limina visit, 31 January 2017
- Megújul — interview on his nomination as cardinal, 28 October 2024 (English version)
- National Catholic Reporter (OSV News) — Serbian cardinal pleads against country's exclusion, 21 September 2026