Puljić: “Pope’s decision on Medjugorje will be good and right”

The Cardinal Archbishop of Sarajevo who is also one of the members of the Medjugorje inquiry Commission, has criticised the media for “twisting” the Pope’s words, making it seem like he was anticipating his decision on the apparitions

VATICAN INSIDER STAFFTURIN

“Interpreting” the Pope’s words on Medjugorje “as conclusive” is “unacceptable”, said the Archbishop of Sarajevo, Cardinal Vinko Puljić - who is also a member of the Ruini Commission that has been in charge of examining the case of the apparitions in the village in Herzegovina – in an interview with Croatian political weekly 7Dnevno. And “this is precisely what certain media hastened to do… I believe Francis’ decision on Medjugorje will be good and right”.

First and foremost, Puljić commented on the significance of Pope Francis’ visit to the Bosnian capital last 6 June. “In Sarajevo, the Pope emphasised above all that the most important thing for the survival of all peoples of Bosnia-Herzegovina is the defence of human rights, tolerance and equal rights. We want to survive and stay in our homes and so it gladdens us to have the support of our Holy Father.”

“The media’s interpretations of the Pope’s statements on Medjugorje shook the spirits of faithful, pilgrims and priests who have links to that place of pilgrimage,” the cardinal added, referring to the Pope’s interview on board the return flight from Sarajevo and the words he used during one of his homilies in St. Martha’s House in the days which followed.

“It is very regrettable that the media gave more – mistaken – attention to certain statements the Pope made on Medjugorje, rather than focusing on some of his more powerful messages about other problems Bosnia-Herzegovina is facing. In fact they twisted used some his statements on Medjugorje, on the Marian apparitions and on other things linked to these. All the Pope had intended to say to certain seers is that they cannot make a media spectacle out of their experiences with Mary, announcing how and at what time she will manifest herself in a given place.”

“It is therefore unacceptable for the Pope’s statement to be interpreted as conclusive.” And “this is precisely what certain media hastened to do, clearly with the intention of ruining the good relations between faithful who embrace the Medjugorje phenomenon and have been going on pilgrimages there for years. I believe Francis’ decision on Medjugorje will be good and right,” the cardinal remarked. “I must earnestly tell you that I am tied to Medjugorje and I was in the Commission that examined the whole case regarding the apparitions. We presented our conclusions and the information we communicated to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which must now work through this material and present it to the Holy Father. When people ask me what I think about all this, I say: praying is not a sin, confessing is not a sin and that is the most important thing.”

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/medjugorje-puljic-42059/