Vatican decision on Medjugorje not likely soon, spokesman says

June 12, 2015

Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, told the National Catholic Register that a Vatican ruling on the authenticity of the alleged Marian apparitions at Medjugorje is not likely to come soon.

On June 6, in a discussion with reporters aboard his plane as he returned from a visit to Sarajevo, Pope Francis said, “We are close to coming to a decision” regarding the Medjugorje phenomenon. A papal committee, convened by Pope Benedict XVI and chaired by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, investigated the reported apparitions and has submitted its findings. Pope Francis said that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) would weigh that report at a meeting, called a feria quarta, soon.

However, Father Lombardi disclosed that the feria quarta has not yet taken place, and it is unlikely that all the prelates who are members of the CDF will gather in Rome for the meeting during the summer.

“So if you ask me: days, weeks or months? I think it would be safest to say a few months,” Father Lombardi said.

 

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Further information:

• Medjugorje Decision Will Take ‘Months’, says Vatican Spokesman (National Catholic Register)
• Pope Francis: ‘we are coming close to a decision’ on Medjugorje (CWN, 6/8)