Austrian cardinal apologizes to Medjugorje bishop

January 19, 2010

Vienna’s Cardinal Christoph Schönborn has written to Bishop Ratko Peric of Mostar, apologizing for any problems he might have caused with his “private” visit to Medjurgorje in December. Bishop Peric, who heads the diocese in Bosnia-Herzegovina where Medjugorje is located, had complained that the Austrian cardinal’s visit lent credence to the reported apparitions there. Bishop Peric, who has strongly cautioned against acceptance of the apparitions, wrote to Cardinal Schönborn earlier this month, expressing “regret” about the Austrian cardinal’s visit, saying that it had aggravated problems in the Mostar diocese.

The timing of the cardinal's apology—coming soon after Cardinal Schönborn met in a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI—lends weight to the report by an Italian Catholic web site (translated on the Catholic Light site) that the Holy Father was also unhappy about the publicity generated by Cardinal Schönborn’s visit.

 

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Further information:

• Cardinal Schönborn issues apology to bishop of Medjugorje (CNA)
• ‘Rumors’ dai ‘Sacri Palazzi’ (Petrus)
• Pope Benedict to Schönborn: Be careful about Medjugorje (Catholic Light)
• Medjugorje bishop regrets visit by Austrian cardinal (CWN, 01/04)