PAPAL COMMENTS
Listed below are comments from Pope Benedict XVI regarding Medjugorje:
Pope Benedict XVI
Listed below is a quotation from Pope Benedict XVI regarding St. James Parish of Medjugorje, followed by comments on the Vatican investigation of Medjugorje events.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010, at a General Audience in the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI looked up from his notes, smiled and raised his right hand in response to the cheering of the Croatian audience members, as he addressed them with the following words, “I greet all Croatian pilgrims from my heart, and especially those from the parish of St. James, Medjugorje. Your pilgrimage to Rome is part of the preparation for the coming of the Lord. Therefore, in hope, be evangelizers of God’s love in your nation. Praised be Jesus and Mary!”…Hvaljen Isus I Marija (Praised be Jesus and Mary)” (Source: The Spirit of Medjugorje, January 2011)
Pope Benedict XVI begins investigation
Pope Benedict XVI on March 17th, 2010, authorized an official inquiry into the Marian apparitions at Medjugorje. Sources* report that the Pope made the decision to go ahead with the investigations, nearly 30 years after the first reported apparition of Mary to the visionaries of Medjugorje took place. The commission to examine the case is led by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, (former Cardinal Vicar of Rome Diocese and ex-president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference) and includes several cardinals and archbishops, many of whom serve on Vatican congregations or Pontifical Councils. The commission also includes specialists in Psychoanalysis, Social Psychiatry, Fundamental Theology and Mariology. The Holy See Press Office published on April 13, 2010 a report from the first session of International Investigative Commission on Medjugorje, held on March 26th, 2010. However, The work of this Commission is not going to be open for the public and all conclusions and findings will be subject to Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican. The Commission will report its findings to the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) before the end of 2012, Commission member Cardinal Vinko Puljic of Sarajevo told a press conference in Rome on February 14. It will be for CDF to issue a final report to Pope Benedict XVI.
Between June 2011 and March 2012, all Medjugorje seers – Ivanka, Marija, Mirjana, Vicka, Ivan and Jacov—and Fra. Jozo Zovko, Pastor of St. James Parish, Medjugorje when visions began in 1981, had been called before the Vatican Commission.
* Sources: Italian weekly magazine “Panorama; Rome, IKA, Bosnian online newspaper Otvoreno; CNA/EWTN; Medjugorje Herald, Galway Ireland; Spirit Daily.
Pope John Paul II
Listed below are a few of Pope John Paul II’s encouraging comments on the events in Medjugorje,
made in an unofficial status, during private and public audiences at the Vatican.
“Medjugorje is the hope for the entire world.” – During a visit to the Vatican, visionary Mirjana met Pope John Paul II when, during a general audience, a priest pointed her out to him; shortly thereafter Vatican staff sent a note for her to meet privately with the Pope at Castel Gondolfo. In a talk at Medjugorje Peace Conference in Irvine California, October 2008, visionary Mirjana revealed that “among other things [Pope John Paul II] said to me was, ‘I know everything, I have been following everything. Ask pilgrims to pray for my intentions. And take good care of Medjugorje because Medjugorje is the hope for the entire world….’. ”
“Monsignor, do you believe?” – in the Pope’s private chapel to Monsignor Robert Cavellero from the Shrine of Our Lady of Chiavari, in response to his comment, “Holy Father, I am just now coming from Medjugorje.,” The Monsignor’s reply was, “Yes, Holy Father! And you, Holy Father, do you believe?” The Pope stopped for a moment in silence and then said at intervals: “I believe …I believe …I believe.” (1997)
“Are you not Vicka from Medjugorje? Pray to the Madonna for me, I pray for you.” – to the Medjugorje visionary, Vicka Ivankovic, who brought 350 wounded servicemen to the Vatican . (1995)
“I want to go to Split , to Maria Bistrica and to Medjugorje.” – a spontaneous comment made to Croatian Delegation that included President Tudjman, Vice President Radic and Cardinal Juharic from Zagreb during their meeting with the Pope. (1995)
“Authorize everything that concerns Medjugorje.” – to Archbishop of Paraguay, Monsignor Felipe Sanitago Bentez, when he asked if he (the Archbishop) was right in giving approval to the faithful gathering in the spirit of Medjugorje, especially the priests of Medjugorje. (1994)
“I give you my blessing. Take courage. I am with you. Tell Medjugorje I am with you. Protect Medjugorje.” – in the Vatican to Rev. Jozo Zovko, OFM of Siroki Brijec , Bosnia – Herzegovina . (1992)
“Medjugorje, Medjugorje, is a great center of spirituality” – to Monsignor Maurillo Kreiger, Ponta Grossa, Brazil, who also asked, “Your holiness, can I tell the visionaries in Medjugorje that you send your blessings?” The Pope replied, “Yes, yes.” (1990)
“Let the people go there. They pray there.” – in conversation with Archbishop Flores of San Antonio , TX when he asked, “Your Holiness, numerous persons from my diocese go to Medjugorje. I did not permit nor forbid them. What should I do?” And after this further comment by the Archbishop, “But they are inviting me to accompany them in the month of August,” the Pope responded, “Go and pray for me.” (1989)
“If I were not Pope, I would be in Medjugorje already.” – to Monsignor Paul Hnilica, Auxiliary Bishop of Rome , admonishing him for not stopping in Medjugorje on his return trip to Rome from Moscow . (1989)
“Yes, it is good for pilgrims to go to Medjugorje and do penance. It is good.” – to Archbishop Sylvester Treinen of Boise , Idaho , in response to the Bishop’s comment, “I’ve just come from Medjugorje, there are wonderful thing s going on there.” (1989)
“So far the messages are not contrary to the gospel.” – during lunch with Bishop Michael Pfeifer, OMI and other Texan bishops, when Medjugorje came up for discussion and the Pope spoke of how it has changed the lives of people who visit there. (1988)
“Let the people go to Medjugorje if they convert, pray, confess, do penance and fast.” – to a group of twelve Italian bishops seeking advice on people going to Medjugorje. (1988)
“You can tell everyone that each day I pray for a happy conclusion to these events.” – during a visit with Fr. Ivan Dugandzic, OFM, when the Holy Father told him that he follows the events of Medjugorje continuously: (1986)
This conference is sponsored by the Medjugorje Peace Conference Committee. Conference organizers recognize and accept that final authority regarding apparitions rests with the Holy See.
