The commission on Medjugorje is welcome

From John Hanrahan, convener of the Medjugorje Apostolate SIR – I refer to the report (March 26) about the new international commission on Medjugorje under the direction of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF).
I would welcome the opportunity to add some important details. This event was announced simultaneously by Rome and also in Mostar by the Bosnian papal nuncio Archbishop Alessandro D’Errico on March 17.
On the following day the nuncio issued a statement on Radio Mir Medjugorje to explain more about the commission and especially what it means to Pope Benedict XVI.
Following meetings with the Holy Father, the nuncio emphasised the Pope had been fully conversant with the Medjugorje phenomenon as head of the CDF. As supreme authority of the Church, he continues to recognise its special importance.
He is also aware of “a huge amount of positive and good influence of local priests, religious, Franciscans, lay people, and it is very difficult for him to perceive that there can be so much opposing information about the same matter”.
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna, following his recent meeting with Pope Benedict, expressed confidence in the commission appointed by the Holy Father and believes that “the outcome will be good, that great prudence and sensitivity is being applied to a phenomenon which has attracted 30 million pilgrims and produced very good fruit, but also some unanswered questions”.