The Stance of the Bishops of Mostar (Bishops Žanić, Perić, and Palić)

All investigations and approvals related to Marian apparitions fall under the primary authority of the diocesan bishop in whose diocese the apparitions occur. After the Virgin Mary appeared in Medjugorje on June 24, 1981, Pavao Žanić, the bishop of the Mostar Diocese, which includes the Medjugorje parish (who served from 1971 to 1993), visited Medjugorje five times in the first two months, showing a fully supportive attitude toward the apparitions. In a sermon at the Medjugorje parish on July 25, 1981, he clearly stated: “I firmly believe that it is not just one child saying they have seen the Virgin Mary and talked with her. If we were talking about just one child, you could say they were stubborn and even the police couldn't get them to recant. But when six innocent, simple children, despite pressure, admit everything for half an hour, I am convinced that no priest instilled these thoughts in them. … I am also convinced that these children are not lying. The children are only speaking what is in their hearts. … It is clear that these children are not lying.” He also asserted in the Croatian Catholic newspaper Glas Koncila on August 16, 1981, that “it is evident that no one, especially the Church, has pressured these children into lying.”

In contrast, the then parish priest of Medjugorje, Fr. Jozo Zovko, was initially skeptical of the apparitions. Bishop Žanić urged Fr. Jozo to courageously believe in the apparitions and pay attention to how God might be working. However, Fr. Jozo advised caution, suggesting that it would be wise to observe the situation without rushing to conclusions. He thought the apparitions could be a conspiracy by the communist government to persecute the Catholic Church.

At that time, the Yugoslav communist government viewed everything happening in Medjugorje with suspicion. On July 4, 1981, the government declared the events in Medjugorje to be a counter-revolution. The secret police summoned Bishop Žanić to their headquarters in Sarajevo for questioning. They also summoned Fr. Jozo Zovko. After these events, Bishop Žanić began to speak less and less about the apparitions. Meanwhile, as a parish priest, Fr. Jozo gradually began to believe in the apparitions as he prayed the Rosary with the visionaries and parishioners. Eventually, Fr. Jozo himself experienced an apparition of the Virgin Mary and became a firm believer and advocate for the visionaries.

On August 17, 1981, Fr. Jozo was arrested and imprisoned for three and a half years due to his supportive stance toward the apparitions. Meanwhile, Bishop Žanić, who initially believed in the apparitions, turned into a staunch opponent under communist pressure. On the other hand, Fr. Jozo, who initially did not believe, became an active advocate after experiencing the apparition and endured severe torture and imprisonment before being released after a year and a half due to international pressure. This situation is indeed ironic.

After a period of silence, Bishop Žanić began to take a more confrontational stance towards the Medjugorje events. He even issued two statements directed at the world: The Current (Unofficial) Position of the Bishop of Mostar Regarding the Medjugorje Events (October 30, 1984) and Medjugorje in 1990. In these statements, Bishop Žanić declared to the global Catholic community and the media that the Medjugorje apparitions were false. His stance gained significant media attention, further spreading awareness of Medjugorje worldwide. Consequently, on April 1, 1985, the Vatican's Secretariat of State sent a directive to Croatian Cardinal Franjo Kuharić, stating that until all the facts were collected and the truth of the matter was clearly established, Bishop Žanić should refrain from expressing personal opinions publicly. Unfortunately, Bishop Žanić largely ignored this request.

In January 1982, under increasing public pressure, Bishop Žanić established a four- member commission to investigate the Medjugorje apparitions. However, this commission, which had only a limited presence in Medjugorje, did not produce significant results. In February 1984, following the recommendation of the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference, Bishop Žanić expanded the commission to 14 members. Unfortunately, many of the members were already opposed to the Medjugorje events. In October 1984, this commission concluded that the Medjugorje apparitions were false, and Bishop Žanić submitted the final report to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). However, in 1987, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI), Prefect of the CDF, transferred the authority to investigate the Medjugorje apparitions to the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference. This transfer of authority suggests that Bishop Žanić's investigation results were unsatisfactory and possibly flawed.

Unfortunately, Bishop Žanić's successor, Bishop Ratko Perić, also opposed the Medjugorje apparitions. Despite lacking the authority to make any o^icial judgment on the matter, Bishop Perić reiterated his disbelief in the supernatural nature of the apparitions during a confirmation homily at St. James Church in Medjugorje on June 14, 2001.

Bishop Petar Palić, who succeeded Bishop Perić as Bishop of Mostar in 2020, has not officially stated his position on the Medjugorje apparitions. He has faithfully followed the Vatican’s stance, frequently attending major events in Medjugorje and presiding over Mass at the Medjugorje International Youth Festival, showing a positive attitude toward the apparitions. In 2024, when the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued “Note on Spiritual Experiences Related to Medjugorje” with the approval of Pope Francis, publicly permitting devotion to Medjugorje, Bishop Palić called it the highest level of approval the Church could currently grant to Medjugorje. He also issued a Nihil Obstat for Medjugorje devotion in coordination with the Vatican, allowing the faithful to practice this devotion publicly without restrictions.

Episcopal Conference of Yugoslavia

On April 10, 1991, the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference issued a statement in Zadar: “From the beginning, we bishops have observed the events in Medjugorje through the Mostar diocesan bishop, the diocesan Medjugorje commission, and the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference's special Medjugorje commission. Based on the investigations conducted so far, it cannot yet be declared with certainty that Medjugorje is related to supernatural apparitions and revelations. However, the fact that countless people from around the world are gathering in Medjugorje for religious reasons calls for the pastoral attention of the diocesan bishop and all bishops. This is because it is evident that healthy Marian devotion is being practiced in Medjugorje according to the teachings of the Church. For this purpose, the bishops will publish appropriate liturgical-pastoral guidelines. Additionally, the special commission will continue to comprehensively investigate all events occurring in Medjugorje."

In this declaration, the Yugoslav bishops stated, “Based on the investigations conducted so far, it cannot yet be declared with certainty that Medjugorje is related to supernatural apparitions and revelations.” This means they did not deny the apparitions but stated that it was too early to make a definitive judgment. This statement was a compromise resulting from the good fruits observed in Medjugorje. Recognizing the importance of the Medjugorje events, the bishops decided to specifically assist in teaching about the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Medjugorje parish. They also expressed their intention to publish appropriate liturgical-pastoral guidelines.

On June 17, 1991, several bishops made an official visit to Medjugorje. The day before going to Mostar, they established a parish pastoral council in Medjugorje. However, on June 27, 1991, the day before the Medjugorje Parish Pastoral Council was to meet again, war broke out when Serbia attacked Slovenia, leading to the final disintegration of what was once Yugoslavia. With the dissolution of the Yugoslav Federation, the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference also dissolved. Subsequently, the authority to investigate the Medjugorje apparitions was transferred to the Bishops' Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Vatican Perspective

In early June 1996, many media outlets reported that the Vatican had banned pilgrimages to Medjugorje. However, Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro-Valls immediately refuted these reports. In an August 21, 1996, statement to the Catholic News Service, he said, "One cannot say that people are forbidden to go there until it is proven false. Since this has not been determined, anyone who wants to go can do so." He added that Catholics have the right to receive spiritual care wherever they go, and just as priests and laypeople are not prohibited from traveling together on pilgrimages to South Africa, the Church cannot prevent priests from accompanying lay-organized pilgrimage groups to Medjugorje. He confirmed that the Vatican's position on Medjugorje remained unchanged.

On May 16, 1998, when Bishop Gilbert Aubry of the Diocese of Saint-Denis de la Réunion in France inquired about the Vatican's position on Medjugorje, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith responded:

Your Excellency, in your letter dated January 1, 1998, you submitted several questions to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith regarding the so-called apparitions at Medjugorje, private pilgrimages, and the pastoral care of those pilgrims, asking for clarification of the positions of the Vatican and the Bishop of Mostar. Concerning this matter, it is di^icult to answer each of the specific questions you raised. The primary point I would like to emphasize is that the Vatican generally does not intervene as a court of first instance regarding phenomena considered supernatural. Regarding the credibility of the “apparitions” you inquired about, the Congregation respects the decision made by the former Yugoslav Bishops’ Conference in Zadar on April 10, 1991: “Based on the investigations conducted so far, it cannot yet be declared with certainty that these matters involve supernatural apparitions or revelations.” Since Yugoslavia has now been divided into several independent states, it will ultimately be necessary for the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina to resume the investigation and make a new decision on this issue.
Bishop Perić's statement in his letter to the Secretary General of Famille Chrétienne, where he asserted, “My conviction and stance regarding the apparitions or revelations of Medjugorje is not constat de supernaturalitate (supernatural is recognized), but constat de non supernaturalitate (no supernatural event occurred),” should be regarded as an expression of his personal conviction as the Bishop of Mostar, with the right to express such an opinion as the local ordinary. However, it is merely a personal opinion.
In conclusion, regarding pilgrimages to Medjugorje, if they are undertaken privately, given that the Church's investigation is still ongoing and the events are not yet confirmed, the Congregation considers these pilgrimages permissible. I hope this letter has provided satisfactory answers to the main questions you raised, and I appreciate your attention to the opinions I have expressed. The main points of the letter are as follows: 1. The statement by the Bishop of Mostar represents only his personal opinion. Therefore, the Church's o^icial final judgment has not yet been made. 2. The Congregation adheres to the declaration made in Zadar, which leaves open the possibility of further investigation. 3. Eventually, a new commission will be formed. 4. In the meantime, all Catholics are allowed to undertake pilgrimages to Medjugorje. Thank you for your patience in awaiting this response. Tarcisio Bertone, Archbishop
(Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Ratzinger)

In this way, in 1998, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith confirmed that it supports the 1991 declaration by the Yugoslav Bishops' Conference in Zadar. Therefore, pilgrimages to Medjugorje accompanied by pastoral care are permitted, and the position of the Bishop of Mostar, who claims that the Medjugorje apparitions are false, is regarded as merely a personal opinion.

In March 2010, Pope Benedict XVI ordered the establishment of an international commission under the Vatican to investigate the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje. The Vatican Commission, composed of around 20 members and led by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, conducted its activities over three years and submitted a report to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. After reviewing the report, the Congregation was to present its findings to Pope Francis, who would then make the final judgment.

In February 2017, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Henryk Hoser, the retired bishop of the Warsaw-Praga Diocese in Poland, as a special envoy to Medjugorje. The mission of the Vatican envoy was not to investigate the authenticity of the apparitions but to thoroughly examine the pastoral situation in Medjugorje and the needs of pilgrims and to propose better pastoral guidelines to Pope Francis. After visiting Medjugorje and personally experiencing the situation, Archbishop Hoser reported directly to Pope Francis that the pastoral and liturgical activities centered around the Medjugorje parish are appropriate to the Church's doctrine and teachings, consistent, e^ective, well-organized, and have borne many spiritual fruits as a result of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje.

On May 31, 2018, Pope Francis appointed his special envoy, Archbishop Hoser, as the permanent apostolic visitor to Medjugorje, and on July 22 of the same year, he began his duties by celebrating a Mass with numerous priests at the Medjugorje parish. Archbishop Hoser remained in Medjugorje, working as the highest authority to enhance the pastoral and spiritual benefits of the Medjugorje parish and pilgrims on behalf of the Pope and the Vatican until his death on August 13, 2021. On November 27, 2021, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Aldo Cavalli, born in Italy and formerly the Vatican's apostolic nuncio to the Netherlands, as the new permanent apostolic visitor to Medjugorje, succeeding Archbishop Hoser.

On May 12, 2019, Pope Francis officially announced that dioceses and parishes could now organize pilgrimages to Medjugorje, meaning bishops and priests could lead pilgrim groups directly to Medjugorje. Previously, laypeople had predominantly organized pilgrimages with priests accompanying them to provide spiritual support. Now, bishops and priests could organize pilgrimages directly from their dioceses and parishes, guiding the faithful to Medjugorje. In other words, Pope Francis officially recognized Medjugorje pilgrimages on a Church-wide level.

On September 19, 2024, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (formerly the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith), with Pope Francis’ approval, issued “Note on Spiritual Experiences Related to Medjugorje.” This Note, signed by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery, and Secretary Monsignor Armando Matteo, did not make any declarations regarding the supernatural nature of the Medjugorje apparitions. However, it acknowledged the devotion associated with Medjugorje and affirmed the abundant spiritual fruits gathered at the Shrine of Our Lady, Queen of Peace.

With the Vatican’s public recognition of Medjugorje devotion, the faithful can now freely practice this devotion without restrictions. This approval represents the highest level of recognition that the Church can currently extend to Medjugorje while the apparitions continue daily.

Conclusion

An examination of the Church’s position to date reveals that the final judgment on the supernatural nature of the Medjugorje apparitions has not yet been made. However, Medjugorje pilgrimages are now allowed beyond the private realm and are officially permitted on a Church-wide level. The Holy See, representing the entire Church, recognizes the spiritual fruits being borne in Medjugorje and has allowed public devotion to Our Lady’s apparitions there. Thus, it is highly misleading and malevolent to claim that the Medjugorje apparitions are false or unapproved by the Church, suggesting that pilgrimages should not take place.

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