Vatican's commission completes investigation on Medjugorje, submits report
January 20, 2014
A special Vatican investigative commission has concluded its study of the reported Marian apparitions at Medjugorje, and passed on its findings to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The Vatican confirmed on January 18 that the commission, chaired by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, had held its final meeting the previous day. The commission, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in March 2010, had been asked to weigh the authenticity of the reports that the Virgin Mary has been appearing regularly to several “seers” since 1981.
The commission’s report, which had been eagerly awaited for months, will now be studied by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), which in turn is expected to make recommendations to Pope Francis.
The “Medjugorje phenomenon” has posed a difficult problem for Church leaders. While thousands of people visited the little town in Herzegovina and reported extraordinary supernatural experiences, local bishops have discouraged belief in the reported apparitions, and in 1997 Bishop Ratko Peric of Mostar decried the “scandalous disobedience” of those who continued to encourage pilgrimages to the site.
According to the Italian daily La Stampa, which cited unnamed Vatican courses, the Ruini commission found no evidence of fraud or trickery in the early report of Marian apparitions at Medjugorje. However, the claims of continuing apparitions for over 30 years, and the regular scheduling of events at which the “seers” claim to have private revelations, have caused mounting skepticism. Last year Archbishop Gerhard Müller, the prefect of the CDF, instructed bishops that they should not allow public meetings organized by the alleged seers “during which the credibility of such ‘apparitions would be taken for granted.”
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Further information:
- Final Meeting of the International Investigative Commission on Medjugorje (VIS)
- Commission to submit study on Medjugorje (Vatican Radio)
- Verdict on Medjugorje nears as Commission claims apparitions are “no hoax” (La Stampa)
- Vatican directs faithful not to host Medjugorje 'seers' (CWN, 11/6/13)
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
Jan. 21, 2014 8:22 AM ET USA
"According to the Italian daily La Stampa, which cited unnamed Vatican courses, the Ruini commission found no evidence of fraud or trickery in the early report of Marian apparitions at Medjugorje." This is pure speculation on La Stampa's part. But even then none of this is "good news" for those who believe in Medjugorje. Would a headline like "Report finds no evidence Obama is an embezzler" be good news for the White House?
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Posted by: ColmCille -
Jan. 20, 2014 7:07 PM ET USA
Whatever the potential impact, the truth is the truth and must be made known. The Church cannot pretend an alleged apparition is legit just to preserve some people's faith (it is dangerous to have your faith hinge on an apparition, rather than on Jesus Christ), and those who refuse to accept the Church's judment would do so anyway.
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Posted by: 1Jn416 -
Jan. 20, 2014 1:27 PM ET USA
I am concerned about the impact of a (long-overdue) decision regarding Medjugorje. I have always been skeptical, but have met so many people who experienced conversions or deep spiritual experiences while visiting Medjugorje that any negative ruling could impact the faith of such folks. Or, as I have encountered with some believers in condemned apparitions, could lead to an attitude of, "The Church condemned St. Faustina for a long time. Things will change, and in the meantime, I believe."
