- We remember that the Croatian president, Dr. Franjo Tudjman, immediately preceding the Pope's coming to Sarajevo testified before an assembly of politicians and priests that Pope John Paul II in their last conversation said that on the occasion of his visit to Sarajevo he wanted also to visit Medjugorje. The local bishop Dr. Ratko Peric was also present for this testimony and did not say a word at that. Source:
- After the usual papal general audience on the Wednesday immediately after the Sarajevo visit, according to reports of the news agencies, the Pope on that occasion among other things said: "In the course of the war pilgrimages of the faithful to the Marian shrine in Bosnia-Hercegovina did not stop as also not in other parts of the world, especially in Loreto, in order to request the Mother of Nations and the Queen of Peace to intervene in that suffering region." These words of the Pope were interpreted by many as his indirect recognition of the Medjugorje events. Source:
- To a group of doctors, who work for the defence and protection of the life of the unborn, the Pope said on the 1st of 1989,"Yes, today the world has lost the sense of the supernatural. In Medjugorje, many seek and re-find this sense in prayer, fasting and confession." Source:
- On November 11, 1990, the Korean national weekly newspaper ("Catholic News") published an article by Msgr. Angelo Kim, President of the Korean Bishops' Conference: "Prior to the conclusion of the last Bishops' Synode in Rome, the Korean bishops were invited to a lunch with the Holy Father. On this occasion, Msgr. Kim addressed the Holy Father directly and said, "Father, thanks to you, Poland was able to liberate itself from Communism". To this, the Holy Father responded, "No, this is not my merit. This is the work of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as She had predicted in Fatima and in Medjugorje." Source:
- An extract from one of Pope John Paul II's letters to his friends Zofia and Marek Skmarnicki of Krakow (Dec 8, 1992. Source http://www.medjugorjenews-nz.org/42.pdf): "I thank Mrs. Zofia for everything concerning medjugorje. I, too, go there every day as a pilgrim in my prayers: I unite in my prayers with all those who pray there or receive a calling for prayer from there. Today we have understood this calling for prayer from there. Today we have understood this calling better. I rejoice that our time is not lacking people of prayer and apostles."
- From Sister Emmanuel's Medjugorje
Report 15 July, 2001
Bishop Denis Croteau of the Canadian Northwest Territories,
went to Medjugorje last April. Before leaving from Medjugorje,
he shared his amazing testimony with his fellow pilgrims:
I came to Medjugorje somewhat like a certain Mgr Paolo Hnilica,
who visited Pope John-Paul II on his return from Russia
in March 1984. The Pope asked him, "Paolo, have you
been to Medjugorje yet?" "No, I haven't, Your
Holiness." "What, you haven't?" "No,
the Vatican advised me against doing so." The Pope
gestured as if to say, "don't worry," then added:
"Go incognito, then report back to me.
- From Sister Emmanuel's Medjugorje
Report 15 May, 1999
On April 28, Father Schoffberger and I were warmly received
by Cardinal Schonborn of Vienna. During our conversation,
we brought up the subject of Medjugorje. Among various positive
things I also wanted to share with the Cardinal my sadness
about the wave of unacceptable slanderous reports against
several witnesses of Medjugorje, even by so called 'Catholic
media', copied out by people who, for the most part, have
never personally met the visionaries nor the local priests.
The Cardinal was not taken in by these old methods used
in the East to destroy the good name of a priest who bothers
the 'regime'.
After having listened calmly to me, the Cardinal said, "
Do you know, Sister, I invited Fr Jozo Zovko to speak in
my Cathedral two years ago?" " Yes, I remember
well ! (The meeting took place on September 26, 1997)".
And, without any further comment, he summed up his innermost
thoughts on the matter:
" Would you please tell Father Jozo that I invite him
once again to speak in my Cathedral!"
- Saturday Evening, August 24, 2002, Zagreb Daily Newspaper,
Headline Reads: "A Surprising Gesture From the Vatican.
The Pope Thanks Father Jozo for Medjugorje!". Front
page shows JPII together with Father Jozo. The cover photo
was taken when the Holy Father welcomed Fr. Jozo in 1992,
in the midst of the Bosnian war. At that time the Pope told
him: "I am with you, protect Medjugorje! Protect Our
Lady's messages!" Click
to see Cover Photo and Article
- From Sister Emmanuel's Medjugorje
Report 15 October, 2002
During a visit to Vicka's home with a few friends the other
day, Mario showed us the Apostolic Blessing that Pope John
Paul II signed for Vicka, just as he did for Marija and
Fr. Jozo (none of the four other visionaries were given
this Blessing - at least at that time). We can only celebrate
the Holy Father's decision to express his heart felt care
for these outstanding witnesses of the Queen of Peace.
- From Sister Emmanuel's Medjugorje
Report 1 September, 2002
Ewa Jurasz, the Polish translator of the Echo of Mary, Queen
of Peace, is taking part in the retreat given in Medjugorje
for all the translators of the Echo in these days. When
she heard the news about Fr. Jozo and the Pope, she called
a couple whom she knows well in Krakow to share it with
them, since they have been close friends of the Holy Father
for many years: Zofia and Marec Skwarnicki. Marec is a famous
poet, a little younger than the Pope, and many people in
Poland love him (see PPS). Well, at the other end of the
phone, the reaction was good to hear: Zofia started to tell
about a dinner that she, Marec and a few other people had
with the Pope shortly before the day dedicated to the Laity,
in the Jubilee Year 2000. She said it might have been on
Saturday, Nov. 25th (she had not yet heard of Fr. Slavko's
death). Before dinner, as a gift, she handed to the Pope
that beautiful book from Fr. Jozo, called, As She Asks.
When the Holy Father saw the book, he exclaimed, "Oh!
Jozo!" (not "Fr. Jozo", but "Jozo!").
Then, instead of placing the book in the pile with the other
books already given to him, he quickly put it aside and
covered it, to make sure it wouldn't be taken away with
the rest. After dinner, Mgr Stanislaw Dziwisz, while collecting
all that was near the Pope, found the book and picked it
up. But the Pope stopped him, took the book back and said
before everybody, "No! This one I take with me to my
room!"
- In response to thanks for what he did to free Poland
from communism he has said, "NO, NOT ME, BUT BY THE
WORKS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN ACCORDING TO HER AFFIRMATIONS
AT FATIMA AND MEDJUGORJE." He also said "MEDJUGORJE
IS THE FULFILLMENT AND CONTINUATION OF FATIMA."
- From Sister Emmanuel's Medjugorje
Report 15 January, 2003
Cardinal Christof Schönborn taught in his cathedral
in Vienna last month that Mary today is doing missionary
work all over the world: in Argentina, Mexico, Lourdes,
Sri Lanka, Medjugorje... Her power to attract people, especially
the poor and those in need, is not the work of clerics or
some kind of unhealthy cult, as some might have it, he said.
Rather, if Mary is there, people come! Even though she never
really traveled during her lifetime or preached to anyone,
Mary has been a powerful missionary drawing millions to
her Son. "On Medjugorje I don't want to express myself
from the standpoint of an ecclesiastical judgment. But I
only can ascertain one thing again and again, that this
is a place where there is obviously an intense mission-station
of heaven where thousands upon thousands of human beings
find prayer, confession, conversion, reconciliation, healing
and deeper faith." (The complete German text of the
Cardinal's Dec. 1, 2002 catechesis, titled, "Mary -
Mission in Her Heart," can be found on the web at <www.kath.net>)
- Pope John Paul II, in response to a question asked by
the Archbishop of Asuncion, La Paz, Bolivia. - Feb. 1995
"Authorise everything that regards Medjugorje!"
- On April 6th, l995 a Croatian Delegation made an official
visit to the Holy Father. The Delegation included the President
Tudjman, the Vice President Radic and Cardinal Kuharic from
Zagreb. The Pope read his official statement and afterwards,
as he often does, he spontaneously added a few words of
his own. "I want to go to Split, to Maria Bistrica
and to Medjugorje!"
- On April 2, 1986 reported by Fr. Ivan Dugandzic, OFM,
during a meeting with the Holy Father. The Holy Father told
him that he follows the events continuously. "You can
tell everyone that each day I pray for a happy conclusion
to these events."
- From Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI, Bishop of San Angelo,
Texas, National Catholic Register, April 15,1990: "During
my Ad Lumina visit to Rome with the Bishops of Texas in
April 1988, I asked our Holy Father his opinion about Medjugorje
during the private conversation I had with him. He spoke
very favorably about the happenings there, pointing out
the good which had been done for people. During the lunch
which the Texan bishops later had with the Holy Father,
Medjugorje came up for further discussion. Again His Holiness
spoke of how it has changed the lives of people who visit
it, and said that so far the messages are not contrary to
the gospel."
- "Medjugorje is a great centre of spirituality!"
- The Holy Father's comment during a February 1990 conversation,
as reported by Bishop Murilo Krieger, Auxiliary Bishop of
Florianopolis, Brazil, made prior to His Grace's fourth
Medjugorje pilgrimage. The Holy Father assented to Bishop
Krieger's request and gave his papal blessing to the visionaries
(National Catholic Register, April 29,1990)
- From Sister Emmanuel's Medjugorje
Report 15 May, 2000
On March 25, 1984 this Holy Father, of whom the Gospa said
in Medjugorje, "I have chosen for these times,"
did the consecration in Rome that she had requested at Fatima.
Several hours later that same day in Medjugorje she told
the children, "Rejoice with me and with my angels,
because a part of my plan has already been fulfilled. Many
have been converted but many do not want to be converted.
Pray!" This was Our Lady's 1000th apparition in Medjugorje!
After the Act of Consecration that day the Pope spent 4
hours alone with Bishop Paolo Hnilica, who had just returned
from saying a Mass in the Kremlin (Moscow) in unity with
the Holy Father's Act of Consecration in Rome. Surprised
that his friend hadn't stopped in Medjugorje on his return,
the Pope told him, "Medjugorje is the fulfillment
and continuation of Fatima!" The Gospa herself
confirmed the Holy Father's words seven years later: "Dear
children! Today also I invite you to prayer, now as never
before, when my plan has begun to be realized... I invite
you to renunciation for nine days so that with your help
everything I wanted to realize through the secrets I began
in Fatima may be fulfilled. I call you, dear children, to
grasp the importance of my coming and the seriousness of
the situation." (8/25/91). And again from Medjugorje
the following month she called, "Help my Immaculate
Heart to triumph in this sinful world!" (9/25/91).
What else could the fulfillment of Fatima be if not the
Triumph of Mary's Immaculate Heart? And this explains why
Our Lady's apparitions in Medjugorje are her last on earth.
At Fatima she gave THE prophecy about the future: "Nevertheless,
in the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph!"
- "If I wasn't Pope, I'd be in Medjugorje already!"
- Reported April 21, 1989 by Bishop Paul Hnilica, SJ, Auxiliary
Bishop of Rome, after having been admonished by the Holy
Father for not stopping in Medjugorje on his return trip
to Rome from a meeting in Moscow on behalf of the Pope.
- The Archbishop of Paraguay, Mons. Felipe Santiago Bentez,
in November of 1994, asked of the Pope if he was right to
give approval to the faithful gathering in the spirit of
Medjugorje, especially with the priests of Medjugorje. The
Holy Father answered: "Approve all that is related
to Medjugorje".
- 1987, in a private conversation with the visionary Mirjana
Soldo the Pope said: "If I were not pope, I would already
be in Medjugorje confessing!"
- Possible miracle through the intercession of JPII could
be the one required for his beatification. Story
here. This must hurt those who try to sack Medjugorje
(I hasten to add that it will merely enlighten those who's
goal is not to "sack" but merely to learn the
truth). Here we have a possible saint-in-the-making, who
endorsed Medjugorje throughout his term. Indeed, some of
his pronouncements, such as the Year of the Rosary, have
been directly attributed to what has come out of Medjugorje.
- The Pope said to Fr. Jozo Zovko, the so-called "Disobedient
Franciscan", on the 20th July 1992: "Busy yourself
with Medjugorje, look after Medjugorje, don't tire. Persevere,
be strong, I am with you. Watch over, follow Medjugorje."
- JPII told Father Jozo Zovko in 2002: "I am with
you, protect Medjugorje! Protect Our Lady's messages!"
- Again in 2002, after coming back from Poland the Pope
wrote from the Vatican to personally thank and send his
apostolic blessing to Fr. Jozo Zovko. ''Our Poland is grateful
for your every word, for every thing that you have done
for us", said the Pope's collaborator, Krystyna Gregorezyk,
who personally handed the thank you note to Fr. Jozo in
the Siroki Brijeg church.
- In 1995, Vicka, one of the visionaries, went to Rome as
the translator for 350 wounded and crippled Croatian soldiers
who had obtained a private audience with the pope. He immediately
recognized her and asked, “Are you not Vicka from
Medjugorje?” He then prayed over her, blessed her
and said: “Pray to the Madonna for me. I pray for
you.”
- The Archbishop Kwangju said to the Pope: "In Korea,
in the town of Nadju, Our Lady cries..." The Pope answered
"There are Bishops , like in Yugoslavia for example,
who are against this...., But it's important to look at
the great number of people who are answering her invitations,
the amount of conversions... all this is underlined in the
Gospel, all these facts have to be seriously investigated."
(L`Homme Nouveau, 3. February 1991.)
- Mons. Maurillo Kreiger, former bishop of Florianopolis
(Brazil), visited Medjugorje four times. His first visit
was in 1986. He writes as follows: "In 1988, I was
with eight other bishops and thirty three priests on spiritual
retreat in the Vatican. The Holy Father knew that many of
us were going to Medjugorje afterwards. After a private
mass with the Pope, before leaving Rome, he said, without
having been asked anything, "Pray for me in Medjugorje".
On another occasion, I told the Pope "I am going to
Medjugorje for the fourth time". He concentrated his
thoughts and said, "Medjugorje! Medjugorje! It's the
spiritual heart of the world". On the same day I spoke
with other Brazilian bishops and the Pope at lunch time
and I asked him: "Your holiness, can I tell the visionaries
that you send your blessing?" He answered: "Yes!
Yes!", and embraced me.
- Italian priest Fr. Gianni Sgreva - "The following
question bothered me: how to establish and lead a community
that is connected with a reality such as is Medjugorje where
yet 'unapproved apparitions' are taking place? Before founding
the community I spoke with Cardinal Ratzinger. He listened
to everything attentively and instructed me what to do.
For Medjugorje he told me, "Don't you worry about the
tree, you worry about the fruits, the vocations, and Medjugorje
is our concern." I spoke also with the Holy Father.
I talked to him about the community and the vocations connected
with the experience of Medjugorje. The Holy Father listened
to me, drew close to me and right in my ear said to me,
reminding me not to forget: "Don't be concerned about
Medjugorje, because I'm thinking about Medjugorje and I
pray for its success every day.You be concerned with the
vocations and pray for me every day".
- Cardinal Schönborn told Cardinal Ratzinger that if
Medjugorje were closed, he would also have to close the
Seminary in Vienna, because the majority of those candidates
had received their call to the priesthood through Medjugorje.
To this, Cardinal Ratzinger replied: "Closing Medjugorje
is not even a question!"
- August 1, 1989 address by the Pope to a group of Italian
physicians dedicated to defending unborn life and to making
scientific and medical studies on the apparition, as reported
by Bishop Paul Hnilica, SJ, Auxiliary Bishop of Rome: "Today's
world has lost its sense of the supernatural, but many are
searching for it - and find it in Medjugorje, through prayer,
penance and fasting."
- June 1986 response to a group of twelve Italian bishops
seeking pastoral advice on people making pilgrimages to
Medjugorje. "Let people go to Medjugorje if they convert,
pray, confess, do penance and fast."
- In July '98 in Lourdes, Cardinal Schönborn clearly
recalled: "If, as Jesus said, we must judge the tree
by its fruit, then I must say that the tree is good... Indeed
It is the mission of the shepherds to promote what is growing,
to encourage the fruits which are appearing to protect them,
if need be, from the dangers which are obviously everywhere...
Medjugorje is not invulnerable, this is why it is and will
be so important that bishops be very conscientious about
their mission as shepherds for Medjugorje so that the obvious
fruits that are there might be protected from any possible
unfortunate errors". (July 1998, Interview with Dr
Max Domej)
- Every year spiritual exercises are organized for priests
and bishops and that way also the archbishop of Pescara
often comes. One time he told me that he asked the Holy
Father about these events. "Holy Father what should
I do when the faithful from my diocese of Pescara want often
to go on pilgrimage to Medjugorje?" "What are
they doing?" asked the Holy Father. "They pray
and go to Holy Confession." "Well, isn’t
that good?" answered the Holy Father. (Brazil's Bishop
Martin talking in an interview with the Medjugorje Press
Bulletin, Dec. 3, 1997 . (source: http://www.birdsongatmidnight.com/SM0905.htm
)
- Sister Emmanuel in her Medjugorje
Report 15 May, 1999
Let me tell you about an interesting report, already published
in the magazine "Maria" (March-April 1999) concerning
Medjugorje.
(Remember that during Pentecost 1998, Pope Jean-Paul
II invited the 'New Communities' to Rome. On this occasion,
Cardinal Ratzinger expressed the confidence the Church
has in those Communities, founded for the most part after
Vatican II. He spoke of a "New Springtime in the
Church".)
Among these communities, that of "The Beatitudes"
is present in Medjugorje. It seeks to be of service to
the pilgrims who flock there in great numbers. In order
to be well in line with the Church, Dr. Fernand Sanchez,
Moderateur General, and Father Francois-Xavier Wallays,
a member of the Community's general council, went to Rome
on January 12, 1999. They received from the Congregation
of the Doctrine of the Faith its directives in regard
to Medjugorje. They were warmly welcomed by the Congregation's
Secretary, Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone.
Cardinal Ratzinger and Mgr Bertone know the Community
of the Beatitudes and how it developed within the Church,
after its recognition by Cardinal Coffy, at the time Archbishop
of Albi (France) in 1976.
Moreover, their presence in Medjugorje having started
in 1989, Archbishop Bertone was able to refer to something
concrete, i.e 10 years of prayer life and apostolic work
of this Community there. The conversation which took place
was therefore based on the precise experience of the particular
community. It should not be taken as a word systematically
given to every Catholic group. Nevertheless, some elements
give much light on the Vatican's position towards Medjugorje,
and should cut short many rumours. Besides, they can easily
be checked in Rome itself.
Dr. S. - Can we remain in Medjugorje and continue our
apostolate there of Evangelization with the pilgrims ?
Arch. B. -Not only can you do so, but you must remain
in Medjugorje, at the service of the pilgrims ! (The answer
was categorical.)
Dr. S. - Can we continue to accompany private pilgrimages
there?
Arch. B. - It is necessary to accompany private pilgrimages!
Archbishop Bertone stated, "For the moment, one should
consider Medjugorje as a Sanctuary, a Marian shrine, in
the same way as Czestochowa." He added:
"The Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith has
asked the Episcopal Conference of Bosnia Hercegovina to
take over the dossier of Medjugorje and start again from
the beginning. A team of experts will take part in the
work."
-
Cardinal Frantizek Tomasek, the late archbishop of Prague and former Communist concentration camp inmate, said Medjugorje "fills me with a great inner joy, fills me with a great inner power." In a 1988 interview with Medjugorge Gebetsaktion, he said, "Personally, I am convinced that Medjugorje is the continuation of Lourdes and Fatima. Step by step, the Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph. And I am also deeply convinced that Medjugorje is a sign for this."
- In the Korean Catholic weekly "Catholic News"
from the 11th November 1990 an interview with Mons. Angelo
Kim Nam Soo President of BK Korea was published. He had
been at a luncheon audience with Pope John Paul II together
with six other bishops on Oct 15th that year. Mons. Kim
recalls that, "words of praise were addressed to the
Pope regarding the change brought about in Eastern Europe.
The Pope replied with a smile that he hadn't done much,
rather, it was a work of providence from above, and it was
carried out in accordance with the promise of Our Lady of
Fatima. The Pope continued that the account of Our Lady
of Fatima is private revelation and said that it differed
fundamentally from public revelation. He also used the example
of Our Lady's apparitions in Medjugorje, and commented on
how wonderful it is that despite some Bishops opposition,
many people visit there, are converted and favored with
God's grace. He then smiled."
Appreciation letter to Father Jozo Zovko from JPII. For translation
and further details, please visit http://www.medjugorje.org/frjozoletter.htm
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