No Vatican decision yet on Medjugorje, leading journalist reports

June 26, 2015

Directly contradicting a report that circulated widely in the Italian media yesterday, a leading Vatican journalist has reported that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has not reached a decision regarding the authenticity of alleged Marian apparitions at Medjugorje.

Andrea Tornielli of La Stampa reports that the CDF has not yet met to discuss the report on Medjugorje that was prepared by a special papal commission chaired by Cardinal Camillo Ruini.

Citing “authoritative Congregation sources,” Tornielli reports that the Medjugorje issue was not discussed at the most recent feria quarta meeting of the prelates who are members of the CDF, and the next such meeting will not be scheduled until the fall—possibly after the October meeting of the Synod of Bishops.

Another Vatican journalist, Gianluca Batile, had reported that the feria quarta was held on June 24, that the prelates weighed the report from Cardinal Ruini’s commission, and that the CDF reached a negative verdict on Medjugorje, which would be sent to Pope Francis for his final decision.

The timing of the feria quarta has been a subject of confusing reports. Earlier this month, Pope Francis had seemed to indicate that the meeting may already have taken place—although the Pontiff said that he was not sure of the timing. Then Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, told reporters that he did not expect a decision from the CDF for “a few months.”

 

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Further information:

• Medjugorje: No decision yet (Vatican Insider)
• CDF reaches negative judgment on Medjugorje, Italian journalists report (CWN, 6/26)