Pope's Media Interview about Medjugorje May 13, 2017

On May 13, 2017, Pope Francis made a pilgrimage to the apparition site of Fatima, Portugal where 6 apparitions took place to 3 children between May and October 13, 1917. His visit was to celebrate the 100 anniversary of the Fatima apparition and to canonize two of the young shepherd children. On the flight back to Rome reporters asked Pope Francis about the apparitions in Medjugorje to which he offered his longest comment to date.

"These presumed apparitions don't have a lot of value. This I say as a personal opinion," he said. "The Medjugorje Commission report has its doubts. I personally am more nasty. I prefer the Madonna as Mother, our Mother, and not a Madonna who is the head of a telegraph office, who every day sends a message at such-and-such an hour. This is not the Mother of Jesus. "Who thinks the Madonna says, 'Come tomorrow at this time, and at such time I will deliver a message to that visionary?'" This statement should not come to us as a shock because Pope Francis made very similar comments back in 2013.

Francis said, (in my own words) the crucial determinant of the Vatican investigation is to distinguish between the original visions in 1981 and the current claims of visions that continue today. Francis adds he can not deny people go to Medjugorje and are converted from sin. "People find God and change their life. This isn't a magic wand. You can't deny this spiritual and pastoral fact."

Pope Francis continues saying the investigations are continuing into the first alleged apparitions when the reported visionaries were children or teenagers, but again made it clear he remains skeptical about today's claims.

On Saturday, Pope Francis praised Cardinal Ruini's Medjugorje Commission report (2010 - 2014) stating it to be "very very good." Francis said, internal Vatican politics intervened: Cardinal Gerhard Mueller of the Vatican's doctrine office raised doubts about some elements of the Ruini report and sought input from his own cardinal and bishop advisers.

Francis said he only learned about Mueller's intervention after the fact, late on a Saturday night. Francis commented, "And it didn't seem right. It was like, excuse the phrase, putting Ruini's report up for auction when it was very well done."

Pope Francis intervened the following day insisting that any further reflections be sent directly to him, not Mueller.

Thoughts from Michael the Founder of Medjugorje USA

While talking with media about Medjugorje on May 13, 2017, Pope Francis notes that the Medjugorje Commission report has its doubts but he himself has a more nasty personal opinion of the more recent Medjugorje apparitions. Francis is aware that Mueller (Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith) had doubts about Ruini's Medjugorje Commission report. Many may wonder what exactly is the stance of Mueller in regard to the report and or the Medjugorje apparitions in general. One answer is found dating back to 2013.

On October 21, 2013, Carlo Maria Vigano (Apostolic Nuncio) wrote a letter on behalf of Reverend Gerhard Ludwig Mueller (Prefect of the Congregation of Doctrine of Faith) in Vatican, Rome. The letter was written to the Bishop of the United States. The official Vatican documents is a follow-up of a previous document sent to the U.S. Bishops in February 2013, in regard to Medjugorje seer Ivan Draigcevic. In the letter we find, "so called visionary of Medjugorje" Ivan Draigcevic appearance and apparitions in U.S. parishes are not acceptable, per order of the Vatican's "Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith." This tells us right away that Mueller's opinion of Medjugorje is negative. When Pope Francis says that Cardinal's Ruini's report is "very, very good," and it is noted that Mueller has doubts about Ruini's report, we can take these comments to suggest that Mueller's opinion of Ruini's report is far less favorable to him than it is to Pope Francis. This tells us straight out that Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith has negative feelings towards the Medjugorje apparitions and or Medjugorje seers. If you would like to read the actual official document from Mueller to the U.S. Bishops against a Medjugorje seer, you will find it on our website at this link, http://www.medjugorjeusa.org/ivanspeakingstopped2.htm

We also know from this interview with Pope Francis with the media on May 12, 2017 that he does not hold the continuing Medjugorje apparitions in high regard either, again saying, "These presumed apparitions don't have a lot of value. This I say as a personal opinion,"

Medjugorje USA has previously offered a number of documents of Bishop Zanic (previous bishop of Mostar which covers the region of Medjugorje and Bishop Peric (current bishop of Mostar.) One article in particular discusses both bishops and their hatred toward Medjugorje. You can read one of these articles at this link. http://www.medjugorjeusa.org/medjugorjeusaspeaksout.htm

In the article listed just above about the bishops of Mostar are documents declassified for Medjugorje USA under the "Freedom of Information Act." The State Department documents in that article talk about Bishops Zanic's article called, "In Face of Responsibility" that appeared in a Catholic publication called, "The Church of the Rock" in 1981. In this article Zanic himself come to hate the Medjugorje apparitions but also believes that “The bishops’ judgment or that of his commission is not infallible and that is why it is not obligatory (binding) from the point of view of the dogma." Ultimately, we each chose for ourselves, believing as we will. In this, just as we have a right to believe so also does Bishop Peric have the right not to believe.

Summarizing we find there are Vatican and Diocesan Priests that have a negative opinion of Medjugorje apparitions. Even so, we find in Zanic's "Face of Responsibility" article that again, “The bishops’ judgment or that of his commission is not infallible and that is why it is not obligatory (binding) from the point of view of the dogma." We also find Pope Francis states on May 13, 2017, "These presumed apparitions don't have a lot of value. This I say as a personal opinion." It is important we note here that Pope Francis shares what he states is his own opinion. The Pope's "opinion" is consistent with Bishop's Zanic's article which appeared in "The Church of the Rock. From these examples we who do believe in Medjugorje are allowed to continue our belief in the apparitions, just as those who do not believe have a personal right to think as they will.

This all gets a bit confusing as Vatican City announced on February 11, 2017, Pope Francis is sending a bishop to Medjugorje to gain "deeper knowledge" of the pastoral needs of millions of Catholics drawn there by reports of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said Polish Bishop Henryk Hoser's mission doesn't involve deciding the merits of the reported apparitions to six children who are now grown with families and still see the Virgin Mary. Bishop Hoser will study "the needs of the faithful who go there on pilgrimage," and his mission, is to wrap up by summer's end, has "exclusively pastoral character."

Archbishop Hoser notes in his media interview that, since 1986 to April 5, 2017, 37 millions people have received Communion in Medjugorje. He continues that in Medjugorje, people extinguish their thirst for their Holy Faith of God. In Medjugorje, pilgrims discover prayer and all this takes place with the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He adds, in Medjugorje, the focus is on the Virgin Mary, “The Queen of Peace.” He tells the media that 2 & 1/2 million faithful pilgrims come to Medjugorje every year. Archbishop continues stating, there are things that have been created in Medjugorje (such as the great works of “Mother’s Village,”) which are worth visiting. He tells us, Medjugorje Franciscan Spiritual Retreats of silence and prayer have been enjoyed by 42 thousand priests. Seminars have been created each year for priests, married couples, doctors/medical professionals, Pro-Life, and the disabled, “showing the intensity of life that could be applied to other places.” He also adds that, "You can say to the whole world, there is a light in Medjugorje and people can find the light again, because we need these spots of light in today’s world that is going down into darkness.” To read more about Archbishop Hoser's media interview visit our page http://www.medjugorjeusa.org/bishophoser.htm

What we find interesting is, Mueller has what appears a total negative image of Medjugorje as does the current Bishop of Mostar, Bishop Peric. The Holy Father seems to show some belief in the earlier Medjugorje apparitions but questions the many messages that still continue today. The Holy Father has enough belief that he felt it important to send an envoy to Medjugorje to look after the needs of millions of Catholic pilgrims who go to Medjugorje every year. The envoy Polish Bishop Henryk Hoser seems to have another personal opinion of Medjugorje all together that is of a far more positive nature.

Looking at all the differences of opinions it is like being on a merry-go-round. Regardless of how dizzy we may feel from all the talk and opinions, there remains one constant and this is our individual right to our own personal opinion. Just as people have a right not to believe, so do others have a right to believe. We should not however make war over who is right or wrong and endeavor to force those who do not think like us into submission, till they believe as we will.

From all the fact based information presented in this article which has to be sown together in patches, I conclude aspects of the Medjugorje investigation reports (2010 - 2014) presented by the head of that Commission (Cardinal Ruini,) is positive and consistent with my article titled, "Reasonable Conclusions of the 4th Medjugorje Commission." To view the article "Reasonable Conclusions of the 4th Medjugorje Commission," visit this page. http://www.medjugorjeusa.org/reasonablecommissionconclusions.htm

1. "The (Medjugorje commission) report has its doubts." But this Pope does not say the report condemned the apparitions. This fact tells us, there is information in the Commission Report that is of a positive nature.

2. Francis said, (in my own words) the crucial determinant of the Vatican investigation is to distinguish between the original visions in 1981 and the current claims of visions that continue today. This fact tells us, part of the positive notes from the 4th Medjugorje Commission is, there is sufficient information to suggest the early apparitions may be of supernatural nature. The doubt of the Commission would therefore be, the continuation of the apparitions and the many messages to which Pope Francis say's, "I prefer the Madonna as Mother, our Mother, and not a Madonna who is the head of a telegraph office..."

3. Confirming a positive aspects of the early apparition, on May 13, 2017, Pope Francis continues saying, the investigations are continuing into the first alleged apparitions when the reported visionaries were children or teenagers, but again Pope Francis made it clear he remains skeptical about today's claims. Once again we are told the early on apparitions from childhood to teenagers are still under investigation. This fact tells us, the 4th Medjugorje Commission report must suggest supernatural forces could be at work.

4. Pope Francis praised Cardinal Ruini's Medjugorje Commission report (2010 - 2014) stating it to be "very very good." Francis said, internal Vatican politics intervened: Cardinal Gerhard Mueller of the Vatican's doctrine office raised doubts about some elements of the Ruini report and sought input from his own cardinal and bishop advisers. We know Mueller (Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith) had a negative view of Medjugorje based on the official Vatican letter to U.S. Bishops (2013) telling them, visiting Medjugorje visionary Ivan is not allowed in the parishes. We confirm Muller remains negative about Medjugorje as he raised doubts about the 4th Medjugorje Commission report presented by Cardinal Ruini. Pope Francis claims he just found out on May 13, 1017 that Mueller spoke out against Ruini's report, so Pope Francis intervened the following day insisting that any further reflections be sent directly to him, not Mueller. This tells us, Mueller has read the report of the 4th Medjugorje Commission and takes offense that the early days of the apparitions are being considered as possible acts of supernatural nature.

From the presented facts I can conclude there is sufficient positive feedback about Medjugorje in the 4th Medjugorje Commission report conducted under the direction of Cardinal Ruini. The recent comments from Pope Francis on his flight back to Rome (having visited Fatima, Portugal on May 13, 2017,) confirms my article, "Reasonable Conclusions of the 4th Medjugorje Commission," is not only consistent but is spot on.

Personally, I am at peace with those who choose to believe and those who choose not to believe. Even so, I beg the question as to why people can't see the multitude of phenomenal events taking place in Medjugorje. Pope Francis's statement, "People find God and change their life. This isn't a magic wand. You can't deny this spiritual and pastoral fact," puzzles me. We need look carefully and deeply at the events in Medjugorje to determine if supernatural events are taking place. We know 42 thousand priests have enjoyed spiritual retreats in Medjugorje, according to envoy Archbishop Hoser. It just seems to me that 42 thousand priest is a number that suggests a heavenly magic wand just may be at work. Since 86 to April 5, 2017, 37 millions people have flocked to Medjugorje taking the Eucharist. To me, this again seems like a magic wand. Loving and caring organizations that have been founded because of profound changes in hearts and minds, are again testament of something magical taking place. Yet most of all, I just can't deny the personal events I experienced before going to Medjugorje and while in Medjugorje. I was a confirmed atheist. I was called to Medjugorje and the atheist in me died. The man remaining has faith that never wavers. For me, 28 years of unwavering faith is heavenly magic at it's best.