Vatican Commission will plausibly suggest the Pope to grant Medjugorje shrine status, a Croatian newspaper writes. It could be overseen by a Vatican representative, but a separate diocese will not be, writes the paper while ascribing open attitude to the Cardinal who heads the Commission.
To be officially accepted, adorned in golden light? Granting Medjugorje shrine status is one of the recommendations Pope Benedict XVI is most likely to receive from the international Commission, a Croatian newspaper writes. Photo: Stefano Pertusati
Medjugorje is likely on the way to official shrine status, the suggestion of which is expected to be among the current Vatican Commission’s recommendations to Pope Benedict XVI. The Commission will submit its report by the end of the year.
Another likely suggestion on the part of the Commission is placing Medjugorje directly under Rome, with a Vatican representative overseeing the pastoral life, and issuing regular reports to the Vatican, the Split-based newspaper Slobodna Dalmacija reports after the Commission’s final session last weekend, without quoting sources.
Bishop Ratko Peric of Mostar – according to Slobodna Dalmacija on his way to losing Medjugorje though his diocese will remain intact
“Presumably late this year, the international Commission will submit a report about the apparitions in Medjugorje to the Vatican, and among the several options it is assumed that a decision will be made to declare Medjugorje a shrine, and suggest to Pope Benedict XVI to appoint a special representative who will have to regularly report on developments in the parish” Slobodna Dalmacija reports before adding:
“It is even possible (Medjugorje) will become a place outside the jurisdiction of the bishop of Mostar.”
While this option has been mentioned before, another such option no longer exists,. According to the regional paper, the diocese of Mostar will remain intact under Bishop Ratko Peric who does not believe in the apparitions:
“Some assumptions have talked about establishing a special diocese for Medjugorje, with the Bishop and department in Trebinje, but due to the small number of Catholics in this place, this option is no longer mentioned” Slobodna Dalmacija writes.
Saint James Church in Medjugorje – according to Slobodna Dalmacija regularly visited by anonymous Vatican envoys during the work of the Commission. Photo: Stefano Pertusati
While repeating the widely held expectation that no final judgment on the authenticity of the apparitions will be issued as long as the visionaries say they are still going on, the Split-based newspaper ascribes an open attitude towards Medjugorje to Commission chairman Cardinal Camillo Ruini.
Slobodna Dalmacija reports the 81 years old former President of the Italian Bishops Conference to be as open to Medjugorje so as to compare his attitude towards the place to that of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. The Austrian Cardinal has been publically outspoken about his belief in the apparitions, and has opened his Cathedral in Vienna for public apparitions to Medjugorje visionaries Ivan Dragicevic and Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti:
Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the Chairman of the Vatican Commission – has open attitude towards Medjugorje, and encourages people to visit, Slobodna Dalmacija reports
“Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the President of the Commission, tends to soften the rhetoric and encourage people to go on pilgrimage to Medjugorje, in the same way as Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the Archbishop of Vienna and a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith” Slobodna Dalmacija writes.
The regional newspaper further reports that “the Commission examines various documents, discusses the chronology of events, and explores the healings of which there are recorded testimonies.”
“The parish of Medjugorje has had anonymous visits by Vatican ‘agents’ aiming at reporting on the pastoral work and everything that is going on around the site of the apparitions” Slobodna Dalmacija finally writes.