On his flight back from celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first apparition in Fatima, Pope Francis took questions from the press. One such question was about Medjugorje.
Small excerpts of the Holy Father’s answer have been quoted in various news articles, but here we post the question and answer in its entirety, as translated by CNA, for the sake of clarity.
Mimmo Muolo (Avvenire): Good evening Holiness. I’m asking you a question in the name of the Italian group. Yesterday and today at Fatima, we saw a great witness of popular faith together with you. The same that is found, for example, also in other Marian shrines like Medjugorje. What do you think of those apparitions, if they were apparition, and of the religious fervor they have aroused seeing that you have decided to appoint a bishop delegate for the pastoral aspects? And if I can permit myself a second 
question I know is very close to your heart besides that of us italians… I would like to know, the NGOs were accused of collusion with the boat traffickers of men. What do you think of this? Thanks.
Pope Francis: I’ll start with the first. I read in the papers that I peruse in the morning that there was this problem, but I still don’t know how the details are and because of this I can’t give an opinion. I know there is an issue and the investigations are moving ahead. I hope that they continue ahead and that the whole truth comes out. Medjugorje, all the apparitions, or the presumed apparitions, belong to the private sphere, they aren’t part of the public, ordinary magisterium of the Church. Medjugorje. Medjugorje. A commission was formed, headed by Cardinal Ruini. Benedict XVI made it. I, at the end of 2013 the beginning of 2014, I received the result from Cardinal Ruini. It was commission good theologians, bishops, cardinals, but good. Very good. And the commission. The Ruini report was very, very good. Then there were some doubts in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and the Congregation judged it opportune to send each one of the members of this Feria quarta (CNA Editor’s note: “Feria Quarta” is a once-a-month meeting in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith during which current cases are examined) all the documentation, even those that seemed to be against the Ruini report. I received a notification – I remember it was a Saturday evening, late evening… and it didn’t seem right. It was like putting up for auction – excuse me the word – the Ruini report which was very well done. And Sunday morning the prefect received a letter from me that said that instead of sending them to the Feria Quarta, they they would send the opinions to me personally.
These opinions were studied and all of them underscore the density of the Ruini report. Principally, three things must be distinguished: the first apparitions, that they were kids. The report more or less says that it must continue being studied. The apparitions, the presumed current apparitions: the report has its doubts. I personally am more nasty, I prefer the Madonna as Mother, our Mother, and not a woman who’s the head of a telegraphic office, who everyday sends a message at such hour. This is not the Mother of Jesus. And these presumed apparitions don’t have a lot of value. This I say as a personal opinion. But, it’s clear. Who thinks that the Madonna says, ‘come tomorrow at this time, and at such time I will say a message to that seer?’ No. The two apparitions are distinguished. The third, the core of the Ruini report, the spiritual fact, the pastoral fact. People go there and convert. People who encounter God, change their lives…but this…there is no magic wand there. And this spiritual and pastoral fact can’t be ignored. Now, to see things with all this information, with the answers that the theologians sent me, this good, good bishop was appointed because he has experience, to see the pastoral part, how it’s going. And at the end he’ll say some words.
The “good bishop” mentioned by Pope Francis is Archbishop Henryk Hoser of Poland, who has been in Medjugorje at the pope’s request. At a recent press conference there, Archbishop Hoser spoke highly of Medjugorje’s fruits and compared the apparition site to Lourdes.
Obviously we at MedjugorjeLive believe that the apparitions, both current and past, are genuine and represent the greatest miracle of our time. For believers who may be concerned about the pope expressing his “personal opinion” on the matter, we invite you to remember the first words Our Lady said to the children in both Fatima and Medjugorje: Be Not Afraid.
Pope John Paul II, who believed strongly in Medjugorje, addressed the crowd in the same way when he first stepped out as pope. He was urging us to put our trust fully in God. On this special day of May 13th, remember Our Lady’s promise made in both Fatima and Medjugorje. Her immaculate heart will triumph.
How will Pope Francis and the Vatican proceed with the Medjugorje? Only time will tell, but perhaps Archbishop Hoser’s opinion will be taken into account once his duties as the papal envoy to Medjugorje conclude.
Discuss the pope’s comments on the Medjugorje Forum
I’d like to see the Italian version !! The Pope is openly taking both sides , the last thing he wants ,is to create a huge conflict .
And the Commission is right when they say that the studies be continued. How can the Vatican decide , or anyone else for that matter , until all secrets etc have been revealed .A supernatural event defies All scientific and academic proofs , one way or the other. BUT, that fact alone makes it a personal belief. And of course , it is wrong to say that the Gospa(Madonna) would never ask a seer to respond for a further message !! That’s exactly what happened at all such “approved” events , including Fatima.And even to St. Faustina . Surely , every Mass is the Vehicle of the Gospel message, and it is the same Church that insists that we , poor Seers , are asked to respond favourably , And furthermore , to spread those messages ( Evangelise).
At the same time , our Pope is pleading (nay admonishing us ), to not exclude anybody from the Graces that abound . (.We do seem to be making Medjugorje a football match and we believers are on the winning side !!don’t we ?). I do believe and understand that is exactly what our Pope is determined to avoid .
Pray,pray,pray. Mir s vama .
Am I the only one that finds it strange that the witness has been ignored of the then Archbishop of Split who many of us recall fondly from the early 80s ? He was a believer (supporter) and a regular visitor . Also, in the 90s he supervised the needs of the women and children , camped in Split , precautionary refugees of the War that erupted . At that time , Ivan , the visionary , came to England with Fr. Slavko Barbaric , RIP, and a young lady from Split, who had been appointed by the Archbishop to assist his cause.
(His name was Franic and the then Bishop was Zanic ; or was it the other way around ?!! Bishop Peric , the present Ordinary , was not yet installed).
I deliberately avoid the use of “alleged visionary”, because I feel strongly that those ‘ youngsters’ have been abused enough . Nothing in any report has suggested fraud or hoax etc but yet the insults from hierarchy freely continue . Many of us were present and heard them branded as “liars” at a Confirmation ceremony which was broadcast live on radio. It was shocking and absolutely unnecessary in our view . ( Talk about being ‘boiled in oil’ ). Luckily, the locals laughed it off saying ,” it’s that Bishop again – sounding off !!”.( Words to that effect !)
These deliberations might not have resulted from an early “approval” .
It is almost impossible now in the light of ” Collegiality” .
But now the approval of early stages get around the objections of the present Bishop as he didn’ t arrive on the scene till over 10 years later.
He might calm down now that they cite reservations about later messages .
The problem seems to centre sound the CDF and the regensburger. All his actions are extremely adverse . That could be why the Envoy was necessary. The Envoy’s word will “triumph” ( it looks like !?!?)
Mir.
It is hard to believe there are still people who does not believe in Medjugorje. So the seers have been faking for nearly 40 years… Defeats sanity to think they are pretending. Even if we believe they are faking, what about the miracles? All of the million of miracles are fake? Popes come, popes go, Mary´s presence is real.