Medjugorje, doubts and openings of the Pope
The press conference on the return flight from Fatima.
Francis speaks of the apparitions in Herzegovina, and while opening to the
first ones he expresses many doubts about the current visions. On Trump: “I do
not judge before meeting him.” On Lefebvrians: “Relations are fraternal.” “I
never granted clemency in a case of child abuse”
ANDREA
TORNIELLI
ON THE
RETURN FLIGHT FROM FATIMA
“I prefer Our Mother Lady to the one leading a telegraphic
office that sends a message every day.” Pope Francis, returning from Fatima,
softens the interpretation regarding the prayer on the “bishop dressed in
white” (”I did not write it myself”) and answers a question about the
apparitions of Medjugorje revealing the content of the Ruini report, positive
on the first apparitions yet dubious about the current ones.
What is left to the Church and the whole world from the
apparitions of Fatima? And what can we hope from the meeting with Trump on May
24?
“Fatima is a message of peace brought to humanity by three
great communicators who were less than 13 years old. The canonization of the
shepherd children was something that was not planned at first, because the
process on the miracle proceeded slowly, then came the evaluation reports and
for me it was a moment of great happiness. The world can hope for peace. With
everyone I will speak of peace. Before embarking on the flight from Rome, I
received scientists from various religions attending a convention at the
Vatican observatory. An atheist, without telling me which country he came from,
greeted me like this: “I’m an atheist! I ask you a favor: tell Christians to
love Muslims more”. This is a message of peace!”
Yesterday you asked to “tear down all walls”, but in a
few days you will meet Head of State, Trump, who wants to build walls and who
doesn’t agree with you on, for example, climate and migrants issues. On the eve
of this audience, what do you think about the policies of the US President and
what do you expect from the meeting with him?
“I never judge a person without listening to them. Things
will emerge from our conversation, he will say what he thinks and I will say what
I think. On migrants, you already my opinion. There are always doors that are
not completely closed, one must look for the doors that are at least a bit
open, you have to go in and talk about what is common and go forward, step by
step. Peace is handmade and is made each and every day. Friendship among
people, mutual knowledge, mutual esteem are handmade, and done daily. Respect
the other, saying what you think in a very honest way.”
Do you hope that after meeting President Trump he will
soften his policies?
“This is a political calculation I do not allow myself to do
... And you know that I do not proselytize on the religious level.”
In Fatima you presented yourself as the “bishop dressed
in white,” the same words used by Sister Lucia in the Third Secret. So far,
they applied to John Paul II, the attack he had suffered, and to the martyrs of
the twentieth century. What does it mean today?
“I did not write the prayer to Our Lady that included that
expression; it was done by Fatima’s sanctuary. There is a link between the
bishop in white, Our Lady dressed in white and the white (garment) worn by
innocent children for baptism. I believe that (through the color white) they
have tried to literally express the will of peace, of innocence, of not making
war to the other. Then-Cardinal Ratzinger explained everything about the third
secret clearly.”
May 13 is a special day for you because in 1992 Nuncio
Calabresi announced your appointment as Buenos Aires auxiliary bishop. Have you
ever linked this fact to Fatima? Have you thought about it these days?
“I’ve not thought about the coincidence. Only yesterday,
while I was praying in front of Our Lady I remembered that, 25 years ago, on
May 13, I received the call of the nuncio announcing me the appointment as
bishop. I asked forgiveness to Our Lady for my mistakes and also for my bad
taste in choosing people...”
The Society San Pius X has a great devotion to Fatima.
There is talk about an imminent agreement; some had foreseen an announcement
today. Will this agreement be made and what is the sense of this reconciliation
for you? Will they come back with triumphalism?
“I would avoid every form of triumphalism. A few days ago,
Feria IV, congress of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, studied a
document, which I have not received yet. The current relationships are
fraternal, last year I gave all their priests the permit to confess as well as
a form of jurisdiction for celebrating marriages. Regarding their problems
however, for a long time, cases that need to be solved by the Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith - for example, cases of abuse, - have been carried on
with the Vatican dicasteries. With Bishop Fellay I have a good relationship;
I’ve talked to him several times. I do not like to rush things, but by walking
and walking, we will then see. For me it is not a matter of winners or losers,
but of brothers who are moving forward.”
Can Evangelicals and Catholics walk a stretch of road
together? Can they attend to the same Eucharistic?
“Great steps have been taken forward. Let’s think about the
statement on Justification; the path has not stopped since then. The trip to Sweden
was very significant. For the ecumenism of the journey, of walking together,
with prayer, with martyrdom, with works of charity and mercy. And there
Catholics and Lutheran Caritas have made an agreement to work together. God is
the God of surprises, we must never stop, we must pray together, witness
together, do the works of mercy together, affirm that Jesus is the only savior
and that grace only comes from Him. Theologians will continue to study; we move
on and walk forward.”
In Fatima we have seen a great testimony of popular
faith, the same one that is also found in Medjugorje. What do you think of
those apparitions and the religious fervor that they have generated, in the
light of having decided to appoint a bishop delegated for the pastoral aspects?
“All apparitions or alleged apparitions belong to the
private sphere; they are not part of the ordinary public magisterium. For
Medjugorje, Benedict XVI set up a commission presided over by Cardinal Ruini. I
received the results; the commission was composed of good theologians, bishops
and cardinals. The committee report is very, very good. There were some doubts
in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and the Doctrine thought
appropriate to send each of the members of the Feria IV - the monthly meeting
of the Congregation - all the documentation, including the opinions contrary to
the Ruini report. I received the notification on a late Saturday night. It did
not seem right to me; it was like putting the Ruini report, which is very well done,
at auction. On Sunday morning, the Prefect of the Doctrine of the Faith
received a letter in which I asked that instead of sending those opposing views
to Feria IV, they should be sent to me personally. These opinions have all been
studied - I would like to stress, all of them. The Ruini report states that the
first apparitions when the seers were young must be distinguished from the
others, and says that investigation should be done on those first ones. The
report presents its doubts on the current alleged visions. Personally, I’m
meaner: I prefer the Lady Mother, to the boss of telegraphic office, who sends
a message every day. And these supposed apparitions do not have much value: I
say this as a personal opinion. There are those who think that Our Lady is
saying: Come, on that day I will give a message to that seer. Thirdly, there is
the spiritual and pastoral fact, the core of the relationship: people who
convert, who meet God, who change life. And this is not thanks to a magic wand.
This fact cannot be denied. Now to see this, I have appointed a good bishop
(Monsignor Hoser, ndr) who has experience in dealing with the pastoral side. In
the end, you will hear some words.”
NGOs that rescue migrants at sea have been accused of
colluding with the traffickers. What do you think?
“I read on the newspaper that there was this problem, but I
still do not know the details, reason why I cannot express my opinions. I know
there is a problem and the investigations are ongoing. I hope investigations
continue and that the whole truth comes out.”
Marie Collins is the last member of the Committee on the
Protection of Children who has resigned explaining that she did so because
Vatican officials did not put in practice the committee’s advice. Whose
responsibility is it? And what are you doing to have them implemented?
“I talked to Marie Collins and she explained me the
situation well, she is a good woman. She will continue to work with priests on
training on this issue. She addressed this accusation and with some reason as
there are so many cases, which are being delayed. Delayed because they were
piling up. In this time, a legislation needed to be done; today in almost all
dioceses there is a protocol to follow, and the dossiers are done well, it is a
great advance. The people are few, there is a need for more staff capable of
following this. Secretary of State and Cardinal Müller are looking for more
staff. There was a change of the director of the disciplinary office of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who was very good but a bit tired,
he returned to his homeland to do the same job there. The new director is an
Irishman, Bishop Kennedy, very good and efficient, he will help. There is then
another problem: sometimes bishops send a case, and if it fits the protocol, it
immediately goes to the Feria IV meeting, otherwise it has to go back and that
is why there is thought of using some continental aid, one or two per
continent: continental pre-courts or tribunals. When Feria IV reduced a priest
to the lay state, if the priest appealed, the same Feria IV reexamined the
case. I have created another court, and I placed ahead of it an indisputable
person, Archbishop of Malta Scicluna, one of the strongest against abuses. If
the first sentence is approved, it means the case is over, the priest has only
the possibility to appeal to the Pope to ask for grace: I have never granted
one. Marie Collins is right but we were on the road, there are two thousand
cases awaiting.”
In Catholic Portugal laws on gay marriage and the
abolition of abortion as well as euthanasia are on the way...
It is a political problem, and of Catholic consciousness
that sometimes does not totally belong to the Church. Behind this is the lack
of a well-made catechesis. There are areas, in Italy and Latin America, for
example, where there are many Catholics and at the same time many
anti-clericals and priest-heaters. I’m worried, but I tell the priests it is
clericalism that drives people away. Clericalism is a plague in the Church. “
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