I will have to respectfully disagree with this statement. There are no official documents from the Holy See whatsoever to suggest that they have "sustained objections against his [Bishop Zanic's] initial findings". There is and has been, however, plenty of unofficial speculations from many quarters suggesting this as fact so that people could continue to uncritically accept the alleged apparitions of Medjugorje as valid.
The result was the Zadar Declaration which stated effectively "We just don't have enough outright proof yet, so we can't certify these events as supernatural".
Incorrect. The statement reads as "non constat de supernaturalitate", one of three possible conclusions for this type of investigation. While a statement such as this always leaves the possibility for further investigation, it doesn't assume it or demand it.
The only realistic possibility it leaves open regarding the actual claims of supernatural phenomena that I can see - and I'm taking into account everything that had been discovered in the investigation up to that point - would be one of the possibility of demonic preternatural activity. I say this in all seriousness.
However, Bishop Ratko, the current Shepherd of this See, has stated he considers "constat de non supernaturalitate" to be the case (which would essentially remove the possibility of preternatural demonic activity). The Holy See has been very careful - in official statements coming out of Rome - to repeat his opinion to all inquiries they get concerning the alleged phenomena occurring at Medjugorje. This in addition to pointing people to the Zadar statement as the Church's official position (up to this point). It is the Holy See's way of saying PAY ATTENTION! in official Church document etiquette.
It is said that this declaration was a conciliatory gesture towards the Bishop of Mostar as head of the province, when really the Conference wanted to approve the apparitions.
"It is said..."
By whom?
At what time?
Where???
Again, I have to respectfully disagree with this statement. I consider it to be no more than the wishful thinking of many people, most, who no doubt, have good hearts if not cloudy minds. Among many of the products of the Medjugorje phenomena is the Medjugorje media. Speculative statements like this get printed somewhere by someone trying to subjectively defend and keep alive their belief in the alleged happenings at Medjugorje and these statements magically become "fact" regurgitated and repeated on down the grapevine.
There is no indication that this could possibly be true. The Bishops voted unanimously 19-0 (with one abstention of a retired archbishop, who "it is said" seemed favorable to Medjugorje) to approve that document. And this after about four years of careful study including all the data that Bishop Zanic had accrued from his two previous commissions
Bear in mind that the statement had a twofold purpose only one of which considered the alleged supernatural phenomenon of the Gospa appearing to the six individuals. The other purpose was to set directives for proper liturgical and spiritual handling of all the people going to Medjugorje which affected the whole region.
In any event, chalk it up to the Holy Spirit. Regardless of intentions of this or that Bishop, this or that Pope, whether for good or ill, the official pronouncements of the Church are what the Holy Spirit protects and are what is to lead us.
And the latest news from the Vatican is that indeed there will be a new commission formed very soon.
This indeed seems to be the case. A commission of the local Bishops conference of the former Yugoslavia, with Bishop Ratko as the Bishop of the See in question. I don't know very much about it, but would seriously doubt that it will "overturn" the statement of Zadar. Indeed, I should think that the new commission is probably being formed with a view aimed more at better serving the people who go to Medjugorje.
I understand that you must be a strong believer in the alleged supernatural events of Medjugorje and don't hold that against you. I would first off recommend you always to Christ in His Church and to accept His verdicts through Her on this issue. Our Catholic Faith is not dependent on any apparition - real or imagined - and in the end, it is this Faith that we must grow in.
I wish for you not to be disappointed if this new commission does not produce results that you might hope for. I cannot foresee it contradicting the Zadar statement, but rather expect that it will strongly reinforce it. That is my honest opinion from everything I know about Medjugorje.
I simply do not want to see people lose their Faith, or create their own faith, over the whole Medjugorje event, particularly if yet another negative judgment from the Church is forthcoming (as I fully expect because I see that is where the truth will lead). If it turns out that I am wrong, then I am wrong. All things considered, no big deal.
All references in my previous post to "Bishop Ratko" are incorrect insofar as he is Bishop Ratko Peric. (I am very tired).
"I wish for you not to be disappointed if this new commission does not produce results that you might hope for. I cannot foresee it contradicting the Zadar statement, but rather expect that it will strongly reinforce it. That is my honest opinion from everything I know about Medjugorje."
I agree this new investigation will very unlikely contradict the Zadar statement.
If my memory serves me correctly, committee members have already agreed that any POSSIBLE approval would NOT occur until all alleged apparitions have ceased, and time is allowed to judge the truthfulness of any alleged prophecies.
This is how the Church has always handled "approved" apparitions. Time is a great tool for discernment.
So that leaves 2 possibilities for this new investigation....a condemnation, or a continuation of the Zadar statement.