From Henry Kovacic re Medjugorje.

In the September 2003 issue of Catholic Insight there is a note in the News in Brief section about the significance of the Pope not visiting Medjugorje during his last three visits to Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, giving the reader the impression that the Pope someow disapproves of the reported ongoing apparitions.

I do not believe that there is anything significant about the Pope not visiting a reported apparition site while the phenomena are still in progress. To do so would have prejudiced the commission investigating Medjugorje regarding the authenticity of the alleged apparitions.

It may be equally significant to note that neither did the Pope visit Mostar (where Medjugorje is located), the seat of the second largest diocese in Bosnia-Herzegovina. It would have been highly unlikely for the Pope to visit Medjugorje and not pay at least a courtesy visit to the Bishop of Mostar. Moreover, if the Pope wanted to 'snub' Medjugorje, he would have done so by visiting Mostar while, at the same time, ignoring the former.

On the contrary, there is anecdotal evidence from the private conversations of many bishops, that Pope John Paul II is pleased with the spiritual fruits of Medjugorje and that the only reason why he--personally--has not visited the shrine is because of his official position as head of the Church.

Etobicoke, ON