Vatican announces members of Medjugorje commission

Vatican City, Apr 13, 2010 / 09:10 am

Today the Vatican announced the individual members of the commission created by the Holy See to investigate the alleged apparitions in Medjugorje. The commission held its first meeting on March 26.

The International Investigative Commission on Medjugorje is being presided over by Cardinal Camillo Ruini and includes several cardinals and archbishops, many of whom serve on Vatican congregations or Pontifical Councils. These members include, Cardinal Jozef Tomko, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; Cardinal Vinko Puljic, Archbishop of Vrhbosna, and president of the Bishops' Conference of Bosnia-Herzegovina; Cardinal Josip Bozanic, Archbishop of Zagreb and vice-president of the Council of European Bishops' Conference; Cardinal Julian Herranz, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts and Archbishop Angelo Amato,  prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

The commission also includes specialists such as Msgr. Tony Anatrella, psychoanalyst and specialist in Social Psychiatry; Msgr. Pierangelo Sequeri, professor of Fundamental Theology at the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy; Fr. David Maria Jaeger, O.F.M., consultant to the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts; Fr. Zdzislaw Jozef Kijas, O.F.M. Conv., relator of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints; Fr. Salvatore M. Perrella, O.S.M., teacher of Mariology at the Pontifical Marianum Faculty of Theology and Fr. Achim Schutz, professor of Theological Anthropology at the Pontifical Lateran University as secretary. Msgr. Krzysztof Nykiel, an officer of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, serves as additional secretary.

Other experts participating in the commission's work include Fr. Franjo Topic, professor of Fundamental Theology in Sarajevo; Fr. Mijo Nikic, S.J., professor of Psychology and Psychology of Religion at the Philosophical and Theological Institute of the Society of Jesus in Zagreb; Fr. Mihaly Szentmartoni, S.J., professor of Spirituality at the Pontifical Gregorian University and Sr. Veronica Nela Gaspar, professor of Theology at Rijeka.

One notable omission from the group is the Bishop of Mostar Ratko Peric, whose diocese includes the site where the alleged apparitions have taken place.

When the investigative commission was announced, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi said that the group will decide whether or not to communicate information regarding their findings. Nevertheless, he said, it can be assumed that it will be a “very discreet” project “given the sensitivity of the subject.”