CDF consideration of Medjugorje report months away

Tuesday, June 30th, 2015

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith might not consider a commission’s report on the Medjugorje phenomenon until after the northern summer.

There had been a report in Italian media that the CDF had considered the report – by a commission led by Cardinal Camillo Ruini – at a “feria quarta” meeting on June 24.

Vatican journalist Gianluca Batile reported that the CDF reached a negative verdict on Medjugorje, which would be sent to Pope Francis for his final decision.

But a Vatican Insider article stated that the most recent such meeting did not consider Medjugorje.

The “feria quarta” monthly meetings are attended by 25 cardinals and bishops, including the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

On his flight back from Sarajevo last month, Pope Francis said that he wasn’t sure when the CDF would consider the commission’s report.

Some reports interpreted his statement to mean the CDF might already have done so.

But the Vatican later confirmed that the CDF hadn’t yet considered the report.

Pope Francis did say: “We are close to coming to a decision. Then the results will be communicated.”

According to the Vatican Insider article, “revelations made in recent months make it clear that the conclusions reached by the commission were not that negative”.

“They gave credit to the first apparitions (the ones witnessed in June and July 1981), separating them from the ones which followed; they criticised some abuses but recognised the spiritual fruits and underlined the need for improved pastoral and spiritual care for seers and pilgrims and the suggestion was put forward to transform Medjugorje into a shrine unto itself or to include it within a new diocese.”

The Vatican Insider article stated it was possible that the next “feria quarta” meeting would not take place until after October’s synod on the family.

Sources