Rome, Italy, Mar 22, 2010 / 14:52 pm
Following last week's announcement that a commission is being formed to investigate possible Marian apparitions at Medjugorje, a typically well-informed Vatican journalist has reported that a new diocese could be formed in the area to include the Bosnian city. Taking territory currently under the jurisdiction of three other dioceses, including Mostar, where Medjugorje is located, the diocese would “permit a better administration of the flow of pilgrims.”
The veteran Vatican writer Andrea Tornielli reported in the Saturday edition of Il Giornale, an Italian newspaper, of the renewed possibility of the erection of a diocese that would make Medjugorje independent from the Diocese of Mostar, which is run by Bishop Ratko Peric. He has been vocal in his skepticism of the authenticity of the apparitions.
Tornielli wrote that the decision to create the new diocese, with a possible see in Makrska, was nearly made last September, but was put off in part by the opposition of Bishop Peric.
The new diocese would be created from territory currently falling within the dioceses of Dubrovnik, Mostar and Spalato.