The move is considered to be another step on the way towards the official recognition of Medjugorje as a Marian shrine.
The Holy See announced at noon on Thursday that Pope Francis had appointed Archbishop Henryk Hoser, the retired archbishop of Warsaw-Praga (Poland), an Apostolic Visitor with a special role for the parish of Medjugorje, reports Večernji List on May 31, 2018.
In a statement released by the Vatican on its official website, it is said that his mission would be exclusively pastoral service, continuing on his mission as the special envoy of the Holy See for the parish of Medjugorje, entrusted to Msgr. Hoser on February 11, 2017, which he completed in the preceding months.
“The purpose of the mission of the Apostolic Visitor is to ensure a firm and permanent accompaniment of the parish community in Medjugorje and those who come to pilgrimage there, whose needs require special attention,” the Holy See said in the statement.
It is believed that this is a step on the way towards the official recognition of Medjugorje as a Marian shrine. It is known that the arrival of Msgr. Hoser had removed the stigma from the Medjugorje phenomenon and that his analysis of the situation on the ground had contributed to resolving the issue of Medjugorje.
Significantly, the announcement from the Vatican was published on the feast of Corpus Christi.
Translated from Večernji List (reported by Darko Pavičić).
